Date of birth:

February 4th, 1915 (Freiwaldau, Austria)

Date of death:

April 26th, 1991 (Vienna, Austria)

Service number:

SS Nr.: 58.074 // NSDAP-Nr.: 5.020.869

Nationality:

Austrian (1938-1945, Reichsgau)

Promotions:
02.02.1933: SS-Anwärter
00.00.1933: SS-Mann
00.00.1934: SS-Sturmscharführer
20.04.1936: SS-Untersturmführer
30.01.1939: SS-Obersturmführer
01.09.1941: SS-Hauptsturmführer RDA 01.09.1940
30.01.1944: SS-Sturmbannführer

Career:
06.06.1932-23.12.1932: Hitlerjugend
09.02.1933: joined the SS
01.10.1934-24.04.1935: II. Sturmbann, SS-Standarte 1, SS-Verfügungstruppe
28.12.1934: granted the German citizenship
25.04.1935-05.04.1936: SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig
20.04.1936-30.04.1939: Zugführer, Schützenkompanie, SS-Totenkopf-Standarte 'Oberbayern'
00.12.1936-00.03.1937: Zugführer, SS-Gebirgszug - Spitzingsee
00.05.1938-00.07.1938: Zugführer, Unterführer-Lehrgang
25.10.1938-07.11.1938: Leutnant and Kompanie-Offizier, Ersatz-Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 87
08.11.1938-23.12.1938: Führer, Reserve-Unterführer-Lehrgang
01.05.1939-26.10.1939: Führer, 7.Kompanie, 1.SS-Totenkopf-Standarte 'Oberbayern'
01.09.1939-20.07.1940: Stab, SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 2
26.10.1939-13.02.1940: 1. Zugführer, 14.Kompanie, SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1
13.02.1940-21.07.1940: 00 (Ordonnanzoffizier), Stab, SS-TIR.2
25.08.1940-08.04.1941: O3 (3.Ordonnanzoffizier), Stab, SS-Totenkopf-Division
08.04.1941-26.04.1941: Führer z.b.V. in Stab / SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1
26.04.1941-01.09.1941: succeeded Krauth as Kdr, 11./ SS-TIR 1
20.09.1941: WIA at Chilkowo, neck and sent to the Lazarett
01.11.1941-01.03.1942: SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Bataillon I
14.10.1942-26.02.1943: Kdr, 3./ SS-Pz.Gren.Regt.5 "Totenkopf"
26.02.1943-09.03.1943: succeeded Baum as Kdr I./ SS-Pz.Gren.Regt.5 "Totenkopf"
09.03.1943-10.03.1943: severely WIA near Dergatschi ivo Kharkov, left lower arm amputated
18.04.1943: SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz-Bataillon 3 - Warsaw
29.12.1943-05.03.1945: Kommandeur, SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 16, 16.SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Reichsführer-SS"
05.03.1945-08.05.1945: Kommandeur, SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 36, 16.SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Reichsführer-SS"
08.05.1945: US POW released due to his wounds
00.00.1945: rearrested by the US and interned in Glasenbach camp
00.00.1945: transferred to British custody
00.00.1948: extradited to Italy
0010.1951: trialed in Bologna and sentenced to life emprisonment at Gaeta fortress prison south of Naples
24.01.1985: released from captivity

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Awarded on:

1939

Awarded on:

1939

Awarded on:

1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 31st, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Awarded on:

July 19th, 1941

other sources give 08.10.1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 28th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Awarded on:

September 20th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Awarded on:

July 13th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Chef, 11. Kompanie, SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1, SS-Totenkopf-Division

Awarded on:

October 17th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Awarded on:

March 10th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Bataillonskommandeur, SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 1 “Totenkopf”, SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division “Totenkopf”, Heeresgruppe Süd

Awarded on:

April 3rd, 1943

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

“On the 01.03.1943 SS-Hauptsturmführer Reder received orders to advance northwards with his Bataillon alongside the I./SS-Totenkopf Pz.Rgt. 3. The advance was to begin east of the Orel river and gradually pivot towards the west via the villages of Par-Schljachowaja, Schljachowaja and Jeremejewka.

The Bataillon encountered heavy resistance at Par-Schljachowaja, however after a hard fight it entered into the village and subsequently repulsed 4 major tank-supported enemy counterattacks during the night.

On the 02.03.1943 the Bataillon smashed strong enemy forces west [sic] of Schljachowaja at the Leninskij factory, and after this it once again crushed tank-supported enemy counterattacks. Although the struggle demanded superhuman exertion, SS-Hauptsturmführer Reder was determined to complete his original task of reaching Jeremejewka. On the 03.03.1943 he led his exhausted troops into action once more, attacked Jeremejewka and fought through to the western edge of the village in bitter close combat. Then, on his own initiative, he crushed those major hostile elements that were fleeing to the north and northeast.

The Bataillon’s bold thrust (made personal only because of SS-Hauptsturmführer Reder’s unwavering devotion) laid the groundwork for the destruction of major elements of the Russian 3rd Tank Army.

During this battle Reder’s Bataillon captured or destroyed the following:

13 tanks
82 guns
1 AA battery
354 trucks
ca. 300 Panje wagons
25 mortars
53 anti-tank rifles
25 field kitchens
Numerous MGs and over 1000 rifles.

SS-Hauptsturmführer Reder (who upheld the highest standard of bravery for his Bataillon) was badly wounded on the 10.03.1943.

I ask that this extraordinarily brave officer be awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross in recognition of his courageous deed and its associated battlefield success.”

It should be noted that several of the events described in this action do not seem to correspond with the sketch that was attached to the Verleihungsvorschlag. Further research is likely required.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Awarded on:

1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Awarded on:

1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• Photo 2:
• Photo 3:
• - MOONEY, PETER, Waffen-SS Knights and their Battles, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd, 2010.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht
  - Schneider J.W., Their Honor was Loyalty!, R. James Bender Publishing, 1977
  - Microfilm Publication A3343. US National Archives