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Jeckeln, Friedrich August (Waffen SS)

    Date of birth:
    February 2nd, 1895 (Hornberg/Baden, German Empire)
    Date of death:
    February 3rd, 1946 (Riga, Latvia)
    Service number:
    SS.Nr.: 4.367 // NSDAP-Nr.: 163.348
    Nationality:
    German

    Biography

    Friedrich Jeckeln was convicted by a Soviet court on February 3rd, 1946 and was hanged the same day.

    October 1st, 1929: NSDAP;
    March 15th, 1930: SS.

    Promotions:
    December 1st, 1930: SS-Anwärter;
    January 5th, 1931: SS-Mann;
    March 31st, 1931: SS-Sturmbannführer;
    June 22nd, 1931: SS-Standartenführer;
    September 20th, 1931: SS-Oberführer;
    February 3rd, 1933: SS-Gruppenführer;
    September 13th, 1936: SS-Obergruppenführer;
    July 26th, 1940: SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Polizei;
    July 1st, 1944: SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS und Polizei.

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    Awarded on:
    1931
    Abzeichen des SA - Treffens Braunschweig 1931
    Rank:
    SS-Gruppenführer (Lieutenant General)
    Awarded on:
    1933
    Ehrenwinkel der Alten Kämpfer
    Period:
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Awarded on:
    1934
    Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
    Rank:
    SS-Gruppenführer (Lieutenant General)
    Awarded on:
    December 16th, 1935
    Julleuchter der SS
    Bronzes SA-Sportabzeichen
    Rank:
    SS-Obergruppenführer (General)
    Awarded on:
    December 1st, 1937
    Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS
    Rank:
    SS-Obergruppenführer (General)
    Awarded on:
    December 1st, 1937
    SS-Ehrenring
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    SS-Obergruppenführer (General)
    Awarded on:
    January 30th, 1939
    Goldenes Ehrenzeichen der NSDAP
    Awarded on:
    April 1st, 1939
    Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP 10 Jahre
    Awarded on:
    1939
    Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
    Awarded on:
    1939
    Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    SS-Obergruppenführer / General der Polizei (Lieutenant-General)
    Awarded on:
    September 28th, 1940
    Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2.Klasse mit Schwertern
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    SS-Obergruppenführer / General der Polizei (Lieutenant-General)
    Awarded on:
    January 30th, 1941
    Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP 15 Jahre
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    SS-Obergruppenführer / General der Polizei (Lieutenant-General)
    Awarded on:
    October 1941
    1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    SS-Obergruppenführer (General)
    Awarded on:
    January 27th, 1942
    Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1.Klasse mit Schwertern
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    SS-Obergruppenführer (General)
    Awarded on:
    May 12th, 1942
    Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    SS-Obergruppenführer (General)
    Awarded on:
    June 27th, 1942
    Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    SS-Obergruppenführer (General)
    Awarded on:
    June 29th, 1942
    Medaille
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    1942
    SS-Dienstauszeichnung 2.Stufe (12 Jahre)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    SS-Obergruppenführer / General der Waffen-SS (General)
    Unit:
    Kampfgruppe Jeckeln, L. Armeekorps, Heer
    Awarded on:
    August 27th, 1944
    Awarded for cleaning up a Soviet penetration near Kaluga. Jeckeln’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

    “On the 16.08.1944, SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Polizei Jeckeln distinguished himself during his defense against a heavy enemy attack. In response to the enemy’s penetration of his line, he launched an immediate counterattack on his own initiative using forces from other sections of his frontline (especially his left wing), accepting the risks posed by denuding these sectors. Fighting at the head of his men as a shining example of personal bravery, he succeeded in throwing back the broken-in enemy forces and retaking the old line. Through his bold and dutifully conducted counterattack SS-Obergruppenführer Jeckeln prevented the Russians from getting into the flanks and rear of the forwardly staggered 122. Infanterie-Division, which would have collapsed the front of both this Division and the whole XXXVIII. Armee-Korps. On the grounds of this decisive action, as well as his distinguished leadership and personal battle readiness on multiple earlier occasions, I believe SS-Obergruppenführer Jeckeln to be worthy of the Knight’s Cross.”

    Also Höheren SS- und Polizeiführer Ostland und Rusland-Nord
    Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    SS-Obergruppenführer / General der Waffen-SS (General)
    Unit:
    Kampfgruppe Jeckeln, L. Armeekorps, Heer
    Awarded on:
    March 30th, 1945
    Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    SS-Obergruppenführer / General der Waffen-SS (General)
    Unit:
    Kommandierender General, V. SS-Korps, Waffen-SS
    Awarded on:
    March 8th, 1945
    Jeckeln’s Oakleaves recommendation reads as follows…

    “Knight’s Cross Holder SS-Obergruppenführer Jeckeln, along with his Korps, has been defending against the strong attacks of overwhelming enemy tank forces in weeks of heavy fighting up until the 08.02.1945. These enemy forces were attempting to collapse the Oder front southeast of Breslau as well as cut-off and destroy the German units in this area.

    SS-Obergruppenführer Jeckeln, responding to each new situation, has once again proven himself through his steadfastness and imperturbability while leading his Korps in very difficult tasks. Showing skillful tactical leadership and constant personal intervention at the hotspots of the front, he has checked the Russian intentions while inflicting heavy losses on them. During its holding of the Oder front Jeckeln’s Korps prevented the enemy from forming bridgeheads and bought critical time for the higher command to initiate countermeasures in the already critical frontline situation. The energy and prudent leadership of SS-Obergruppenführer Jeckeln is solely responsible for the fact that the potential crises could be mastered.

    Even after the enemy had succeeded in creating an Oder bridgehead at Brieg following harsh combat, SS-Obergruppenführer understood the necessity of preventing the enemy from expanding to the south and southwest after they had majorly augmented their attacking forces with a dangerous buildup of materiel.

    The achievements of Jeckeln’s Korps are particularly praiseworthy in light of the fact that it was chiefly composed of unexperienced police formations, hastily assembled alarm units, Hitlerjugend and Volkssturm. And it was the energy of SS-Obergruppenführer Jeckeln, along with his distinct leadership style and constant personal intervention, that enabled these successes to take place (which in turn had a decisive effect on the development of the situation in the Breslau area).

    On the grounds of his renewed and outstanding service, SS-Obergruppenführer Jeckeln is fully worthy of the award of the Oakleaves to the Knight’s Cross.”

    802nd award.
    Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

    Sources