| Rüdiger Pipkorn | |
|---|---|
| Born | 19 November 1909 Gera, Germany |
| Died | 25 April 1945 Halbe, Germany killed in action |
| Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Waffen SS |
| Years of service | 1939–1945 |
| Rank | Oberst and Standartenführer |
| Unit | 35th SS and Police Grenadier Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | German Cross in Gold Iron Cross I class Iron Cross II class Wound Badge in Black |
Rüdiger Pipkorn (1909–1945) was a Oberst (Colonel), and a temporary Standartenführer (Colonel) in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was killed in action in 1945, while in command of the 35th SS and Police Grenadier Division.
Rüdiger Pipkorn was born on the 19 November 1909,in Gera in Thuringia.[1][2] He was a member of the Heer (German Army) during World War II. In 1943 as a Oberstleutnant he accepted a wartime transfer to the Waffen SS. He was not a member of the NSDAP and as he was only temporarily transferred to the Waffen SS, he did not receive a SS service number.[1]
He was awarded the German Cross in Gold in June 1944, for his performance when serving as the chief of staff for the II SS Panzer Corps in Normandy.[1][2]
In the spring of 1945, he was given command of the 35th SS and Police Grenadier Division, which by April was in positions on the Neisse River near Guben, southeast of Berlin. The Soviet Berlin offensive had started on 16 April. He was killed in action on 25 April 1945, in his command tank by Soviet tank fire near the outskirts of Baruth, while leading his division in an attempt to break out of the Halbe pocket.[1][2] According to his book "Panzer Commander" Col. Hans von Luck of the 21st Panzer Division was friends with Pipkorn and spoke with him just moments before he was killed in the fighting in the Halbe Pocket.