Kurt Hartrampf

Kurt Hartrampf
Born 29 April 1906
Haynau, Germany now Poland
Died 23 March 1983 (aged 76)
West Germany
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Waffen-SS
Years of service 1938–45
Rank Obersturmbannführer
Unit 102 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Iron Cross I Class
Iron Cross II Class
German Cross in Gold
Danzig Cross

Kurt Hartrampf (29 April 1906 — 23 March 1983) was an Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel) in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Early life

Kurt Hartrampf was born on 29 April 1906 in Haynau in Silesia. He was not a member of the NSDAP but he did volunteer to join the SS-VT (SS service number 327352). he was awarded the Danzig Cross for his contribution to building up the Nazi Party in the free city of Danzig.

World War II

During World War II, he was posted to the 1st Company, SS Panzerjager Battalion 3, SS Totenkopf Division and later to the 14th Panzerabwehr (Anti-tank) Company. He was transferred to command the I Battalion, SS Panzer Regiment 10, 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg (refers to 16th Century German landsknecht commander Georg von Frundsberg), in 1944 and then was given command of the 102 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion in August 1944. He was still in command of the 102 SS when he was awarded the Knight's Cross in April 1945.

Kurt Hartramf survived the war and died on the 23 March 1983, in West Germany.[1]

Artifacts

The SS Totenkopf Ring belonging to Hartrampf was recently discovered by Craig Gottlieb, author of The SS Totenkopf Ring: An Illustrated History from Munich to Nuremberg.[2] Gottlieb, the military and weapons expert for History Channel's TV Show Pawn Stars, was contacted by the family of the veteran who brought the ring home as a war souvenir.[3]

References

Further reading

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). Retreat to the Reich : the German defeat in France, 1944. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3384-7.
  • Fey, Will; Henschler, Henri (2003). Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-2905-5.
  • Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). The German Defeat in the East, 1944–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3371-7.