Date of birth:

December 18th, 1903 (Warburg/Westernphalia, Germany)

Date of death:

June 22nd, 1983 (Aachen/Rhineprovince, Germany)

Service number:

SS-Nr.: 8.396 // NSDAP-Nr.: 383.823

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Promotions:
04.05.1931: SS-Anwärter
00.00.1931: SS-Mann
25.01.1932: SS-Scharführer
08.09.1933: SS-Truppführer
20.04.1934: SS-Obertruppführer
05.06.1934: SS-Sturmführer / SS-Untersturmführer - RDA 20.04.1934
15.09.1935: SS-Obersturmführer
13.09.1936: SS-Hauptsturmführer
00.00.1936: SS-Unterführer-Anwärter
01.04.1937: SS-Sturmbannführer
30.01.1939: SS-Obersturmbannführer
01.08.1940: SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve
30.01.1942: SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve
21.06.1943: SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve
09.11.1944: SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve

Career:
01.12.1930: joined the NSDAP
04.05.1931: joined the SS
00.00.1934-00.00.1935: SS-Ustuf, Führer, 2. Sturm, I. Sturmbann, SS-Standarte 24
00.00.1935-00.00.1937: SS-Ostuf, Führer, III. Sturmbann, SS-Standarte 24
00.00.937-00.00.1945: Führer, SS-Standarte 67
00.06.1940: SS-Oscha.(RFA), SS-Junker, SS-Junker-Schule Bad Tölz
00.08.1940: SS-Ustuf. d.R., Zugführer, SS-Ersatz-Bataillon 'LSSAH'
00.06.1941: SS-Ustuf. d.R., Ord.Off., Kommandostab RFSS
00.00.1941: SS-Ustuf. d.R., Leiter, Abteilung Qu.2, Kommandostab RFSS
00.00.1941: Kommandant, Stabsquartier, 1 SS-Infanterie-Brigade (mot.)
00.01.1942: SS-Ustuf. d.R., Zugführer the Kompanie-Führer, SS-Infanterie-Regiment 8, 1 SS-Infanterie-Brigade (mot.)
00.04.1943: SS-Ostuf. d.R., Chef,11. Kompanie,SS-Infanterie-Regiment 10, 1. SS-Infanterie-Brigade
00.01.1945: SS-Stubaf. d.R., Kdr., I. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 40, 18. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Horst Wessel"

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Awarded on:

1931

Awarded on:

February 1934

Awarded on:

July 1st, 1935

Awarded on:

December 16th, 1935

Awarded on:

December 1st, 1936

Per SS-Dienstaltersliste of 01.12.1936. The SS-DALs of 01.12.1937 and 01.12.1938 give Bronze

Awarded on:

December 1st, 1936

Awarded on:

1938

Awarded on:

1938

Awarded on:

1939

Awarded on:

June 15th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Awarded on:

January 30th, 1942

His DKiG and EBSdH Vorschläge give 01.01.1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Chef, 11 Kompanie, SS-Jnfanterie-Regiment 10 (mot), 1. SS-Infanterie-Brigade

Awarded on:

August 1st, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Chef, 11 Kompanie, SS-Jnfanterie-Regiment 10 (mot), 1. SS-Infanterie-Brigade

Awarded on:

January 4th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Chef, 11 Kompanie, SS-Jnfanterie-Regiment 10 (mot), 1. SS-Infanterie-Brigade

Awarded on:

1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Chef, 11 Kompanie, SS-Jnfanterie-Regiment 10 (mot), 1. SS-Infanterie-Brigade

Awarded on:

May 15th, 1943

His RK Vorschlag gives 13.05.1943 and other sources 10.05.1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)

Awarded on:

July 21st, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)

Unit:

Chef, 11 Kompanie, SS-Jnfanterie-Regiment 10 (mot), 1. SS-Infanterie-Brigade

Awarded on:

December 26th, 1943

Documents in his SS file give three conflicting dates: 26.12.1943 (per RK Vorschlag); 27.12.1943 (DKiG Vorschlag); and 07.12.1943 (EBSdH Vorschlag)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)

Unit:

Führer, I. Bataillon, SS-Grenadier-Regiment 40, 1. SS-Brigade, 18. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Horst Wessel"

Awarded on:

February 13th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)

Unit:

Führer, I. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 40, 18. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division “Horst Wessel”

Awarded on:

October 25th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve (Major of Reserves)

Unit:

Führer, I. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 40, 18. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Horst Wessel", 46. Infanterie-Division, IV. Panzer-Korps, AOK 8

Awarded on:

January 13th, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve (Major of Reserves)

Unit:

Führer, I. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 40, 18. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Horst Wessel", 46. Infanterie-Division, IV. Panzer-Korps, AOK 8

Awarded on:

January 13th, 1945

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

“On the 10.12.1944 Sturmbannführer Riepe had the order to hold the village of Szeczeny against the Bolshevik onslaught. At his disposal were some hastily assembled alarm units and the II./Grenadier-Regiment 42. In the midst of enemy drumfire and bombing from Russian aircraft, Riepe was a shining example of prudence and fearlessness for his men as they defended against the ceaseless enemy attacks that were supported by tanks.

For a whole week (10.12.-17.12.1944) the Russians stormed against the city ,undeterred by their losses. Driven forwards by their commissars, all their attempts were in vain.

Sturmbannführer Riepe led the hodgepodge garrison of Szeczeny with iron energy and a firm hand. In the most trying of hours his inspiration was able to inspire his men to resist to the last. Whenever the Russians managed to achieve a penetration with the support of heavy artillery preparation, Sturmbannführer Riepe was able to restore the old frontline through counterattacks led with boldness and skill that also brought bloody losses to the enemy.

In the early morning of the 16.12.1944 the Russians managed to penetrate through the heavily thinned German ranks along the southwest edge of Szeczeny with 300-400 men and 9 tanks. However this penetration was sealed off by the personal intervention of Sturmbannführer Riepe. Acting on his own initiative, Riepe ruthlessly stripped the not yet attacked sections of his security line of men. With these hastily thrown-together forces (strongly outnumbered by the Russians) he launched an energetic attack with a loud ‘Hurra’ that pushed the enemy out of the city once again. In the process he inflicted heavy losses on the enemy and destroyed 6 enemy tanks with his heavy weapons.

Through his prudence and determination, Sturmbannführer Riepe therefore played a decisive role in holding the key city of Szeczeny. In doing so he prevented our divisions positioned in the Matra mountains from being outflanked.”

Vorschlag dated 19.12.1944 and signed by Kdr. of 46. Infanterie-Division Generalmajor Erich Reuter; Endorsed by Korps. Kom. Gen. General der Panzertruppe Ulrich Kleemann and Armee OB General der Infanterie Otto Wöhler

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1945

• Photo 1: Martin Lux
• Photo 2:
• Photo 3:
• - 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
  - Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945
  - Microfilm Publication A3343. US National Archives.