Nr. 29.025

Awarded on:

1935

Awarded on:

1939

Awarded on:

1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 13th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 14th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

April 20th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Führer, I. Bataillon, SS-Infanterie-Regiment 'Nordland', 5. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Wiking", Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

March 11th, 1943

Name is written in Patzwall / Scherzer as Hanns.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

February 1944

WIA 02.02.1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)

Unit:

Kommandeur, III. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 23 'Norge', 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Nordland“, Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

March 12th, 1944

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

“On the 31.01.1944 the III./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. ‘Norge’, under the command of SS-Sturmbannführer Lohmann, was in positions in the Luga bridgehead along the eastern edge of Jamburg. The ordered withdrawal from the bridgehead took place on the following night after a hard yet successful defensive battle by friendly forces.

Following the evacuation of the bridgehead SS-Sturmbannführer Lohmann would have the mission of occupying new defensive positions on the west bank of the Luga. By inserting his Bataillon between von Kramer’s Bataillon and Kampfgruppe Vogt he would greatly strengthen the defensive line that hitherto was only being held thinly by combat group Stoffers.

At the start of Lohmann’s withdrawal movement from the bridgehead the following situation had taken shape at the southern part of the west bank:

- During the whole day the enemy was transferring strong forces to the west bank of the Luga, south of Saretschje. Several flank attacks against the II. Bataillon, in positions at the paper mill and Saretschje, were repulsed successfully (partially with counterthrusts) by the Bataillon. However a further reinforcement of the enemy meant that in the evening hours of the 31.01.1944 it was necessary to withdraw the II. Bataillon to a blocking position between the Luga and the Pjatnitzkij swamp (see sketch) -

At around 04:30 on the 01.02.1944 Lohmann and his Bataillon were still in the process of withdrawing. The 9. & heavy Kompanien were at the eastern edge of Nowo Pjatnitzkoje, and the 10. & 11. Kompanien were in the western part of Jamburg. Having heard that the enemy had pushed far to the west with overwhelming forces, overrun the blocking positions of II. Bataillon and now had lead elements that were already 300 metres south of the road, Sturmbannführer Lohmann immediately dispatched his Bataillon for a counterthrust on his own initiative. They would pass through the parts of II. Bataillon that had pulled back and engage the enemy.

III. Bataillon conducted a surprisingly swift deployment, with 9. Kompanie advancing past Hill 25.2 towards the southeast and 10./11. Kompanien moving out to the south (see sketch). In a hard nocturnal close-combat engagement, in which Sturmbannführer Lohmann distinguished himself through outstanding personal bravery, the enemy was thrown back with extremely heavy losses. This continued until the old positions were again under friendly control.

It was only thanks to the outstanding personal bravery of Sturmbannführer Lohmann, a man who inspired his troops at a decisive moment of the hard close combat through his own example, that this counterthrust met with success.

The tremendous energy and independent decisiveness of the commander of the III./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. ‘Norge’ ensured that the enemy attempt to cut off our troops still in the bridgehead and on the west bank was prevented. Furthermore the enemy lost a great deal of both light and heavy infantry weapons, as well as a large part of their assault forces. Due to this the subsequent planned withdrawal of the Division to Dubrowka could be conducted according to plan and with minimal friendly losses.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Führer, SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 49 'De Ruyter', 23.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Nederland" (niederl. Nr.1), Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

May 9th, 1945

On the 21.01.1945, two days before the start of the Fourth Battle of Courland, Soviet forces commenced an attack against a section of German frontline in Courland at around 10:30 following a strong fire preparation lasting about half an hour. Their goal was to reach a series of objectives that would facilitate a later breakthrough towards Libau. In the sector of the SS-Frw.Pz.Gren.Rgt. 49 ‘De Ruyter’, the Soviets pushed an attack wedge about 200-300 metres beyond the Preekuln-Skuodas railway line alone a very narrow front towards the west. Here Lohmann was able to eliminate this penetration through skillful employment of his reserves.

On the 23.01.1945 the Soviets managed to achieve a penetration at the boundary between Lohmann’s regiment and the 30. Infanterie-Division. However, despite the loss of all radio and telephone communications, it was possible to prevent a further enemy advance through a determined strongpoint-like defensive network.

The next day the Soviets tried to encircle German forces located south of Purmasati from the north and south with 10 tanks and 200 men. Lohmann’s regimental command post was encircled in Kaleti by enemy tanks, but the Germans defended it bitterly with Lohmann in the foremost line. His resistance here ensured that the already encircled/bypassed friendly strongpoints could also be held onto. The day after this, the 25.01.1945, the Germans succeeded in pulling back their frontline to the preprepared Krimhild line.

Lohmann would be awarded the Oakleaves for his achievements during this time period.

The recommendation was made on February 26th, 1945 and arrived at the OKH/PA/P5 on April 23rd, 1945. The recommendation was supported by Generalleutnant, Kommandierender General III.(germanisches) SS-Panzerkorps on March 19th, 1945, without comments of OB 11.Armee, HGr Weichsel and Reichsführer SS ; official HPA proposal (HPA-VV) prepared without Nr. ; Karteikarte existing ; both without further handling or hints to an award. Definitive confirmation of awarding is not known. Case treated by OdR Ordenskommission in 1974 and decided : "ja 872.EL" ; award accepted by OdR in accordance with so-called "Dönitz-Erlass"; 872nd award and award date determined by OdR.