Date of birth:

August 27th, 1905 (Dortmund/Western Phalia, German Empire)

Date of death:

January 13th, 1971 (Bad Tölz/Bavaria, Germany)

Service number:

SS-Nr.: 247.062 // NSDAP-Nr.: 722.395

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

SS-Gruppenführer Dipl.Ing. Heinrich Bernhard 'Heinz' Lammerding

Promotions:
18.01.1931: SA-Obertruppführer
04.04.1934: SS-Sturmführer
01.05.1935: SS-Obersturmführer
30.01.1937: SS-Hauptsturmführer
19.10.1939: SS-Sturmbannführer
01.09.1941: SS-Obersturmbannführer
30.01.1943: SS-Standartenführer
09.12.1943: SS-Oberführer
28.01.1945: SS-Brigadeführer / Generalmajor der Waffen SS
29.01.1945: SS-Gruppenführer / Generalleutnant der Waffen SS

Career:
01.04.1935: entered the SS
00.10.1939-15.11.1940: SS-Stubaf, Kdr, SS-Totenkopf-Pionier-Bataillon, SS-Division 'Totenkopf'
15.11.1940-26.04.1943: SS-Stubaf, Ia, Generalstab, SS-Totenkopf-Division (mot.)
10.08.1942-00.04.1943: SS-Ostubaf, Kdr, SS Schnelle Schützenregiment "Thule", 3. SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division 'Totenkopf'
27.04.1943-01.05.1943: SS-Standartenführer, Kdr, 3. SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division 'Totenkopf'
00.06.1943: SS-Staf, Kdr, Kampfgruppe, 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'
23.10.1943 or 25.01.1944: SS-Oberführer, Kdr, 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'
25.07.1944: WIA during the inspection of the SS-Panzer-Regiment 2
23.10.1944-20.01.1945: SS-Brigadeführer, Kdr, 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'
02.02.1945: SS-Gruppenführer und General der Polizei, Stabschef, Heinrich Himmlers Heeresgruppe „Weichsel"
00.00.1951: sentenced to death in abstentia for the massacres in Oradour sur Glane and Tulle in June 1944 in France but was never brought to justice
13.01.1971: died of a cancer

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Awarded on:

1931

Awarded on:

February 1934

Awarded on:

November 9th, 1935

Awarded on:

1937

Awarded on:

1939

Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)

Awarded on:

May 23rd, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)

Awarded on:

June 22nd, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant-colonel)

Awarded on:

June 10th, 1942

Silver version

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant-colonel)

Awarded on:

August 1st, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Brigadeführer / Generalmajor der Waffen-SS (Brigadier)

Unit:

Kommandeur, SS-Kradschützen-Regiment "Thule", 3. SS-Panzer-Division 'Totenkopf'

Awarded on:

April 24th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Oberführer (Brigade General)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Panzer-Kampfgruppe “Das Reich”, LIX.Korps, 1. Panzer Armee, Heeresgruppe Süd

Awarded on:

April 11th, 1944

Lammerding’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“On the 20.02.1944 the Kampfgruppe “Das Reich” was deployed to the west of Shepetowka and the command of SS-Oberführer Lammerding was ordered to secure a 60-km gap in our front line. Although the Kampfgruppe contained no more than three battalions, Oberführer Lammerding was able to prevent the enemy advance southward with agile movement of his troops, despite the fact that the enemy attacked daily and was constantly reinforced. Lammerding’s skill and leadership placed the troops where danger was most imminent. He was always found at the main point of the fighting, where he led daily counterattacks. With his leadership, it was possible to prevent the enemy breakthrough in area of the Korps until he could launch his main attack.

From the 20.02.-06.03.1944, Lammerding and his troops were responsible for the western flank of the Korps. During that time they inflicted the following heavy losses:

52 tanks
1 assault gun
32 AT guns
42 AT rifles
85 machine guns
127 machine pistols
172 prisoners

The success of the Kampfgruppe was of critical importance not only for the LIX. Armee-Korps, but also the whole southern flank of the 4. Panzer-Armee.

I request the bestowal of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross to Oberführer Lammerding.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 1944

WIA 25.07.1944

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher collection
• Photo 2:
• - LANDWEHR, R., From the Arctic Circle to the Don River, Merriam Press, Bennington, Vermont, United States, 2011.
  - MOONEY, PETER, Waffen-SS Knights and their Battles, Schiffer Military History, 2016.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
  - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X
  - Schneider J.W., Their Honor was Loyalty!, R. James Bender Publishing, 1977
  - Dienstaltersliste der Schutzstaffel der NSDAP 1937
  - Dienstalterliste der Schutzstaffel der NDSAP (SS-Oberst-Gruppenfuhrer - SS-Standartenfuhrer) 30. Januari 1944. p.29.