Gottstein, Rainer Dr. (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:: August 10th, 1910 (Reichenberg/Bohemia, Czechoslovakia)
Date of death:: February 13th, 1945 (Tök/Pest, Hungary)
Buried on:: German-Hungarian War Cemetery Budaörs
Grave: UNK.
Service number:: SS-Nr.: 219.699 // NSDAP-Nr.: 5.062.634
Nationality:: Austrian

Biography

SS-Obersturmbannführer Rainer Hans Wahrmund Gottstein
Promotions:
20.04.1937: SS-Untersturmführer
20.04.1938: SS-Obersturmführer
30.01.1939: SS-Hauptsturmführer
01.10.1940: SS-Sturmbannführer / Regierungsrat
30.01.1945: SS-Obersturmbannführer und Oberstleutnant der Polizei / Oberregierungsrat

Career:
01.11.1933: entered the SS
24.06.1937: entered the NSDAP
00.00.1941: SS-Stubaf, Polizeirat, Leiter des Referates II D 1,„Funk-, Foto- und Filmwesen", Amt II, Organisation und Verwaltung, Reichssicherheitshauptamt, Berlin
00.00.1944: SS-Stubaf, Leiter, Einsatzkommando, Kosice and Miskolc
00.08.1944: SS-Stubaf, Kommandeur, Sicherheitspolizei und SD, Budapest
13.02.1945: most probably KIA near Tök, 20km North West of Budapest

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SS-Zivilabzeichen

Nr. 83.754

Julleuchter der SS

Awarded on:: 1935

Bronzes SA-Sportabzeichen

DRL Sportabzeichen in Bronze

Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS

SS-Dienstauszeichnung 4.Stufe (4 Jahre)

Awarded on:: January 30th, 1938

SS-Dienstauszeichnung 3.Stufe (8 Jahre)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: 1941

Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)
Awarded on:: 1944

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)
Awarded on:: 1944

Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)
Unit:: Kommandeur, Sicherheitspolizei und Sicherheitsdienst, Budapest
Awarded on:: January 22nd, 1945

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)
Unit:: Kommandeur, Sicherheitspolizei und Sicherheitsdienst, Budapest
Awarded on:: February 6th, 1945

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

“SS-Obersturmbannführer Gottstein has already distinguished himself through his exceptional services during the coup in Hungary. For this he was decorated with the Iron Cross First & Second Class.

As commander of the Sicherheitspolizei and the SD in Budapest during the weeks-long combat in the fortress, he has again distinguished himself repeatedly through his readiness for action and boldness. Through the exemplary leadership of his subordinated forces he has made possible the detention and pacification of numerous saboteurs and deserters, as well as the elimination of emergent traitors from the ranks of the Hungarians. Through the skillful employment of his own agents he has also obtained valuable information for the higher commands. Numerous enemy communication links were destroyed as a result of his initiative.

Through his personal actions and fearless demeanour in the encircled city of Budapest, SS-Obersturmbannführer Gottstein has delivered outstanding service which has helped to preserve the military clout of the Wehrmacht formations deployed here. Consequently he has also facilitated the continued defense of the city itself.

He is worthy of the proposed award.”