Walter Bestmann

Walter Bestmann
Born 2 October 1907
Lübeck, Germany
Died 17 June 1958 (aged 50)
Lübeck, Germany
Allegiance Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
Service/branch Waffen SS
Years of service 1933–45
Rank Oberführer
Unit Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf
10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg
SS-Junkerschule Klagenfurt
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Iron Cross 1st Class
Iron Cross 2nd Class
Eastern Front Medal 1941/42
Demyansk Shield
Wound Badge in Silver
Infantry Assault Badge in Bronze

Walter Bestmann (2 October 1907 – 17 June 1958) was an Oberführer (Senior Colonel) in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. This was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Early life

Walter Bestmann was born on the 2 October 1907 in Luebeck. He was one of the early volunteers to join the SS (SS service number 20.135), NSDAP (Party Number 307,449) and was selected to become an officer promoted to Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) in August 1933. [1][2]

World War II

In September 1939 he was in command of the 4th (MG)(Machine Gun) Company, LSSAH (Leibestandarte 1st Division SS-Adolf Hitler) for the Polish Campaign and was then given command of the III.Battalion, 1st SS Infantry Regiment, in the newly formed SS Totenkopf Division for the Battle of France.[1][2]

He participated in the invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa), in 1941 where he was awarded the Knight's Cross in September 1941 while in command of the 3rd SS Reconnaissance Battalion, SS Totenkopf.[1][2]

In September 1942, Walter Bestmann was promoted to Sturmbannführer (Major) and given command of the 10th SS Panzer Regiment, 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg until September 1943 when he took over as the commander of the SS-Junkerschule at Klagenfurt until the end of the war.[1][2]

Post war

Walter Bestmann survived the war and died on the 17 June 1958 in Lübeck.[1][2]

Commands

Promotions

[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Mooney, Peter. "Ritterkreuzträger Walter Bestmann" (Personal website).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "frontkjemper".

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.
  • Henschler Henri & Fay Will (2003). Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS. 1943-45 Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-2905-2.
  • Huß, Jürgen; Viohl, Armin (2003). Die Ritterkreuzträger des Eisernen Kreuzes der preußischen Provinz Schleswig-Holstein und der Freien und Hansestadt Lübeck 1939–1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers the Prussian Province of Schleswig-Holstein and the Free and Hanseatic City of Lübeck 1939–1945] (in German). Zweibrücken, Germany: VDM Heinz Nickel. ISBN 978-3-925480-79-9.
  • Mitcham, Jr.Samuel (2007). Retreat to the Reich. Stackpole books 2007. ISBN 0-8117-3384-X.