Awarded on:

1938

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Zugführer, SS-Standarte 'Germania', SS-VT

Awarded on:

November 15th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef, 14. Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment 'Germania'

Awarded on:

May 29th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

OO, Stab, SS-Division LAH

Awarded on:

August 20th, 1941

WIA 20.08.1941 region Zhitomir

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Awarded on:

1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Awarded on:

November 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Awarded on:

August 28th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)

Unit:

SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler", Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

November 1st, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Ia, 1. SS-Panzer-Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler", Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

February 23rd, 1944

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

“SS-Obersturmbannführer Lehmann has been the Ia of the Division since 1942 and was awarded the German Cross in Gold on the 02.11.1943 for his outstanding performance during the winter fighting of 1943 near Kharkov and during Operation Citadel.

In the ongoing major combat that began in November 1943 SS-Obersturmbannführer Lehmann has had a major share in the successes of the Division through his outstanding staff work. With his ability to clearly assess a situation and his incredible calm he supported the divisional commander in the most careful way, and yet also knew when to act on his own when the situation demanded it.

On the morning of the 29.12.1943 the Division was involved in hard defensive combat against overwhelming enemy tank forces in the area east of the line Zhitomir—Berdichev. The SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 2 was on the bank of the Guiva and the SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 1 was located in the Stawischtsche—Antopol-Bojarka area. On the previous day the Division had fought a successful defensive battle with minimal friendly Panzer forces, and was largely able to halt the advance of the Soviet 3rd Guards Tank Army while preventing them from achieving their plan of blocking the Zhitomir-Berdichev road and cutting off Berdichev from the northwest. Now the Division was authorized by the XXXXVIII. Panzerkorps to have a free hand in choosing where to establish a frontline. The Division would now also be heavily reliant on its own decisions as contact with the XXXXVIII. Panzerkorps had largely been broken in the previous day.

As the area west of the line Bolschije-Moschkowzy—Tschernowoje was only being held through a chain of strongpoints by the SS-Flak-Abt. 1, SS-Pz.Pi.Btl. 1 and the SS-Pz.Aufkl.Abt. 1, and since aerial recon had reported strong enemy tank forces marching to this area from the east, the divisional commander personally went to this area with his SPW to get a better grasp of the situation. As such SS-Obersturmbannführer Lehmann would be totally responsible for decision-making in his absence until the early afternoon hours, especially since no radio contact was possible with the SPW of the divisional commander.

At around 11:00 the pressure of enemy tank forces from the north and east against the Division had become so strong that only a withdrawal could prevent the wholesale splintering of its forces. The enemy tank formations that were concentrating their advance against the Divisional command post could neither be blocked or stopped by its Regiments. From their experiences on the previous day the enemy had learned to avoid hard resistance and bypass the Kampfgruppen instead.

Thus at about 12:00 SS-Obersturmbannführer Lehmann decided to order a withdrawal to a new defensive line located at Tatarinowka—Solotwin—Polowykoye. At the same time the village of Raskopana-Mogila would be held onto in order to secure the retreat movements of both Grenadier regiments.

After conducting a personal reconnaissance towards the north all on his own with a motorcycle, SS-Obersturmbannführer Lehmann secured the village with the friendly elements located there (parts of the SS-Pz.Nachr.Abt. 1, a few repaired Panzers and drivers/clerks of the Führungsabteilung). To these would be added elements of the SS-Pz.Art.Rgt. 1 which were overrun by enemy tanks in Swch. Beresina and had pulled back to the Divisional command post. All these forces were deployed for all-round defense, and with this Lehmann gave the order for the Kampfgruppen to pull back to the new defensive line.

Although an enemy armoured group of 33 tanks was already operating behind the Divisional command post SS-Obersturmbannführer Lehmann nonetheless proceeded to conduct an armed reconnaissance in a northeasterly direction with repaired tanks, which had clerks of the Führungsabteilung and communications troops of the Nachr.-Abt. mounted atop of them as escort. During this time he personally launched a counterthrust against an enemy group that had penetrated the lines (in strength of about 2 companies), throwing it back and destroying it.

As a result of this independent action SS-Obersturmbannführer not only demonstrated outstanding personal bravery, but also preserved the combat power of the Division in a truly praiseworthy fashion. His actions enabled the Division to fight from a continuous front on the 30.12.1943 and in the following days, which in turn made it possible to hold off the unabated Russian attacks and their armoured forces during this time period.

During this time SS-Obersturmbannführer Lehmann conducted the giving of orders as well as the retreat movement itself with superior calm and prudence, while carrying out his duties with brilliant precision. In addition to this he personally took over command of local combat actions with a weapon in hand where the situation demanded it. Thanks to these notable attributes the retreat movements of the Kampfgruppen and the extraordinary bravery of the men in their positions was made possible.

SS-Obersturmbannführer Lehmann has outstandingly distinguished himself by his experience, pronounced calm in crisis situations, and above all his confident and clear judgements of the situation in addition to his lightning-swift, energetic conduct during all combat days in the area east of Zhitomir, near Radomyschl, northeast of Tschernjachoff, east of Korosten, east of the line Zhitomir-Berdichev, southwest of Berdichev and south of Pogrebischtsche. He also has a particularly large share in the successes of the Division on account of his distinct and resourceful staff work.

Due to his consistent and distinguished steadfastness, personal bravery and outstanding performance in the field of military leadership, I hold SS-Obersturmbannführer Lehmann as one who is worthy of the award of the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross. I would like to request that he be recognized with this high honour.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

stellvertretender Führer, 1. SS-Panzerdivision "Leibstandarte SS AdolfHitler"

Awarded on:

March 13th, 1944

During the heavy defensive battles of the past few days in the area east of Tarnopol, the first SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" under the deputy leadership of Obersturmbannführer Lehmann and the Thuringian 7.Panzerdivision under Colonel Dr. Mauss have proved themselves to be excellent.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Standartenführer (Colonel)

Unit:

Führer, 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich", Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

May 6th, 1945

When the Soviets broke into the Vertes mountains in early 1945 SS-Standartenführer Lehmann and his Division managed to intercept them west of Kisber. In doing so Lehmann and his men succeeded in holding open the escape route for the 6. SS-Panzer-Armee, and for his actions here Lehmann would be decorated with the Oakleaves.


862nd Award.
Dietrich award. No evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. The award was unlawfully presented by SS-Oberstgruppenführer Sepp Dietrich. The date is taken from the announcement made by the 6. SS-Panzerarmee. The sequential number "862" was assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR). Lehmann was member of the AKCR.