Herbert Kuhlmann

Herburt Kuhlmann
Born 17 April 1915
Harburg, Hamburg, Germany
Died 9 November 1985 (aged 70)
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Waffen-SS
Years of service 1936–45
Rank Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel)
Unit Wiking
2nd SS Division Das Reich
1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
German Cross in Gold
Iron Cross 1st Class
Iron Cross 2nd Class
Wound Badge in Gold
Infantry Assault Badge
Eastern Front Medal

Herbert Kuhlmann (17 April 1915 — 9 November 1985) was an Obersturmbannfuhrer (Lieutenant Colonel) in the Waffen-SS, who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. After the war, he emigrated to Argentina where he assisted Nazis who were wanted for war crimes to hide from the authorities.

Early life

Kuhlmann was born in Harburg, Germany, on 7 April 1915.

Military career

Kuhlmann graduated SS Junkerschule at Braunschweig in 1936 with the SS Number 118 826. He was first posted to the Wiking (Germania & Westland) before joining the Das Reich in 1942. He was appointed the commander of the 8th Light Company, 2nd SS Panzer Regiment, 2nd SS Division Das Reich upon the formation of their Panzer Battalion, on the 10 February. He eventually took command of the I./Battalion, SS Panzer Regiment 1, LSSAH. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on the 13 February 1944, for his role in the breakout from the Cherkassy encirclement. while in command of this Panzer Battalion. He was eventually given command of the 12th SS Panzer Regiment, 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend[1]

During the Ardenness offensive he was in command of his own Kampfgruppe,[2] which consisted of the 12th SS Panzer Regiment, 560 SS Panzerjager Battalion, Panzer Grenadier Battalion, Self-propelled Artillery Battalion and an engineer company.[3]

Later life

After the fall of the Reich, Kuhlmann made his way to South America to start a new life in Argentina. Like many within Buenos Aires' underground Nazi community, he built a fortune in business, joining the upper echelons of Buenos Aires society.[4] The wealth and successful business-ventures of Nazis who escaped to Buenos Aires after the war was thanks in most part to the support and protection made available by the highest-ranking officials within the Argentine government. Perhaps the greatest support to Kuhlmann and his fellow Nazis came directly from the Argentine President and Nazi-sympathizer, Juan Perón, husband of the much loved, late Eva Perón.[5]

Kuhlmann helped many other Nazis into hiding in establishing their new lives in Argentina. One of the most infamous among those he helped was Adolf Eichmann, the Third Reich's leader of the Final Solution. Kuhlmann provided Eichmann with a lease to a modest home in Buenos Aires' largely German suburb of Olivos,[6] after Eichmann had spent years living in extreme isolation in the Argentine province of Tucumán,[7] 700 miles north of the capital. Kuhlmann, on the other hand, managed a much more plush residence for himself, behind the walls of a palatial mansion in Palermo Chico, the embassy row of Buenos Aires.[8]

Awards

Promotions

Commands

References

  1. ↑ The 12th SS Volume Two By Hubert Meyer p.200
  2. ↑ Ardennes, 1944 By Jean-Paul Pallud, David Parker, Ron Volstad p16
  3. ↑ Ardennes, 1944 By Jean-Paul Pallud, David Parker, Ron Volstad p.17
  4. ↑ Hunting Eichmann, 2009 By Neal Bascomb p. 91
  5. ↑ Hunting Eichmann, 2009 By Neal Bascomb p. 91
  6. ↑ Hunting Eichmann, 2009 By Neal Bascomb p. 91
  7. ↑ Hunting Eichmann, 2009 By Neal Bascomb p. 89
  8. ↑ Hunting Eichmann, 2009 By Neal Bascomb p. 91