Date of birth:

September 19th, 1906 (Zeithain, Meißen/Saxony, Germany)

Date of death:

February 5th, 1990 (Würzburg am Main/Bavaria, Germany)

Service number:

SS-Nr.: 14.434 // NSDAP-Nr.:192.298

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Kurt Launer reached the rank of SS- Standartenführer.

Promotions:
01.08.1930: SA-Mann
01.10.1931: SS-Anwärter
29.10.1931: SS-Mann
15.11.1932: SS-Scharführer
23.01.1933: SS-Truppführer
09.11.1933: SS-Obertruppführer
18.05.1934: SS-Untersturmführer
02.07.1935: SS-Obersturmführer
20.04.1937: SS-Hauptsturmführer
20.04.1942: SS-Sturmbannführer RDA 20.04.1941
20.04.1944: SS-Obersturmbannführer
30.01.1945: SS-Standartenführer

Career:
00.00.1930-27.09.1931: joined SA-Sturm 30 in Glauchau/Sachsen
01.02.1930: joined the NSDAP
01.10.1931-01.10.1932: joined the SS - 1./ II./ 7. SS-Standarte
01.10.1932-00.04.1933: 3./ II./ 7. SS-Standarte
00.04.1933-30.10.1933: Schutzhaftlager - Schloss Osterstein - Zwickau
00.04.1933-31.07.1933: Führer SS Wachkommando / 7. SS-Standarte
31.07.1933-00.10.1933: Führer - Schutzhaftlager - Schloss Osterstein - Zwickau
00.10.1933-10.01.1935: Chef, 2. Sturm - SS-Sonderkommando 'Sachsen' - SS-Totenkopf-Verband 'Sachsen'
10.01.1935-01.07.1936: Sturmbann Adjutant - SS-Pioniersturmbann - SS/VT
01.07.1936-12.08.1936: Zugführer - 3./ SS-Pioniersturmbann - SS/VT
12.08.1936-01.12.1936: Zugführer in II./ SS-Totenkopf-Verband 'Elbe'
01.12.1936-10.07.1937: Führer, 5./ I./ SS-Totenkopf-Verband 'Oberbayern'
10.07.1937-19.10.1939: Führer, 1./ 1. SS-Totenkopfstandarte 'Oberbayern' - Dachau
00.09.1939: campaign in Poland
19.10.1939-12.12.1939: Führer, IV./ 5. SS-Totenkopfstandarte 'Dietrich Eckardt'
12.12.1939-00.09.1941: Chef, 2. Kompanie / SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 3
00.09.1941-00.11.1941: Chef, 8. Kompanie / SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 3
00.11.1941-00.03.1943: Kdr., II. Bataillon / SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 3
00.03.1943-17.01.1944: Kdr., II.Bataillon / SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6 "Theodor Eicke" - 3. SS-Totenkopf-Division
17.01.1944: WIA
17.01.1944-20.03.1944: Kdr., SS-Panzergrenadier-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz-Bataillon 3
17.01.1944-20.03.1944: Kdr., Feldjäger-Abteilung (mot.)
20.03.1944-01.10.1944: Führer-Reserve - SS-FHA
14.08.1944-09.09.1944: Regimentsführer-Lehrgang - Panzertruppenschule Bergen
01.10.1944-06.12.1944: Kdr., SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 37 - 17. SS-Panzer-Division "Gotz von Berlichingen"
06.12.1944: WIA for the 7th times and sent to the Lazarett
08.05.1945: captured in the Lazarett - POW
00.00.1947: released

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Rank:

SS-Obertruppführer

Unit:

Chef, 2. Sturm, SS-Totenkopf-Verband 'Sachsen'

Awarded on:

February 1934

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Adjutant, SS-Pioniersturmbann, SS/VT

Awarded on:

December 16th, 1935

Awarded on:

December 1st, 1936

Awarded on:

December 1st, 1936

Awarded on:

January 30th, 1938

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Awarded on:

December 1st, 1938

Awarded on:

April 1st, 1939

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Führer, 1. Kompanie, 1. SS-Totenkopfstandarte 'Oberbayern'

Awarded on:

1938

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Führer, 1. Kompanie, 1. SS-Totenkopfstandarte 'Oberbayern'

Awarded on:

1939

Awarded on:

October 1st, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Chef, 2. Kompanie, SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 3

Awarded on:

June 26th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Chef, 2. Kompanie, SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 3

Awarded on:

July 7th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Chef, 2. Kompanie, SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 3

Awarded on:

October 8th, 1941

in Bronze

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)

Unit:

Kdr., II. Bataillon, SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 3

Awarded on:

August 1st, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)

Unit:

Kommandeur, II. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 6 'Theodor Eicke', 3. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Totenkopf", Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

April 24th, 1943

Vorschlagsliste Nr. 12 dated 27.03.1943 and signed by Rgt.-Kdr. Hellmuth Becker; Approved 03.04.1943 by Div.-Fhr. Max Simon.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 1st, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)

Unit:

Kommandeur, II. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 6 'Theodor Eicke', 3. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Totenkopf", Armee-Ober-Kommando 6, Heeresgruppe Süd, Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

August 15th, 1943

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

“On the 12.07.1943 the Bolsheviks launch an attack from the north (namely the Michalowka/Andrejewka area) against the positions of the II./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. ‘Theodor Eicke’ with strong infantry and tank forces, following a heavy artillery and mortar barrage. They concentrated on the 7./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. ‘Theodor Eicke’. After its commander and most of its troops fell the Bolsheviks succeeded in penetrating through the defenses of this Kompanie. SS-Sturmbannführer Launer recognized that this break-in posed a great danger not just for his Bataillon, but also for all elements of the Division north of the Psel river.

In response he gathered all available troops at his command post, as well as whatever squads could be spared from the other hard-pressed Kompanien. He then led this hastily assembled reserve force against the Soviet penetration at the head of his men. In a tough man to man battle the numerically superior Bolsheviks were pushed out of the position while losing several hundred dead. Two enemy tanks that had broken through were also destroyed in close combat. By the evening of the 12.07.1943 the old German line was once again firmly in our hands. All further enemy attacks were bloodily repulsed.

On his own initiative SS-Sturmbannführer Launer had ruthlessly stripped his desperately fighting Kompanien of men in order to clean up the enemy penetration. In doing so he thwarted the enemy aim of cutting off the elements of the Division north of the Psel. This decisive success is first and foremost thanks to the heroic personal readiness of SS-Sturmbannführer Launer.

In recognition of this deed and its associated success, I please ask that this brave officer be awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross.”

Vorschlagsliste Nr. 9 dated 06.08.1943 and signed by Div.-Kdr. Hermann Prieß

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Kdr., II. Bataillon, SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6 "Theodor Eicke", 3. SS-Totenkopf-Division

Awarded on:

December 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1944

• Photo 1: Igor Poul
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
  - SCHINDLER, MICHAEL G., Ritterkreuzträger aus Sachsen 1939-1945, libergraphix, 2013.
  - das-ritterkreuz.de
  - Awardholders / unit