Date of birth:

August 15th, 1903 (Königsberg/Easternprussia, Germany)

Date of death:

May 1st, 1945 (Bad Aussee/Stiermarken, Austria)

Service number:

SS-Nr.: 257.146 // NSDAP-Nr.: 4.691.488

Nationality:

German

Died on 1st May 1945 from his wounds inflicted on 9th March 1945 in Hungary.

Promotions:
02.11.1925: Schütze
01.04.1926: Offizieranwärter
01.08.1927: Gefreiter
01.10.1927: Unteroffizier
01.08.1928: Fähnrich
01.08.1929: Oberfähnrich
01.06.1930: Leutnant
01.07.1933: Oberleutnant
01.10.1935: SS-Obersturmführer
30.01.1938: SS-Hauptsturmführer
01.06.1939: SS-Sturmbannführer
13.12.1940: SS-Obersturmbannführer
01.03.1942: SS-Standartenführer
20.04.1943: SS-Oberführer
20.04.1944: SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS
01.12.1944: SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS

Career:
00.05.1919-00.07.1920: Freiwilliger, Ost-Preuss Abteilung «Luck»
05.11.1925: joined the Infanterie-Regiment 1
01.06.1930: Leutnant, Zugführer, II. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 1
01.03.1934: Oberleutnant, transferred to the Luftwaffe, Deutsch-Luftsportverband
00.04.1934: pilot and observer training - incident with an eye then transferred to photographic exploitation section, Führer, Sektion „Luftbild-Interpretation", Fliegertechnische Schule 1, Fliegertruppe Jüterbog
01.10.1935: joined the SS as SS-Obersturmführer, SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz
30.01.1936: SS-Hstuf, Taktiklehrer, SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz
01.05.1937: joined the NSDAP
17.08.1938: SS-Hstuf, Chef, 4. Sturm, I. Sturmbann, SS-Standarte "Der Führer"
01.06.1939: SS-Stubaf, Kommandeur, SS-Fla-Bataillon, SS-Flugabwehr-MG-Abteilung
00.08.1939: detached as obsever in Panzer-Division 'Kempf' - campaign in Poland
00.03.1940-00.06.1942: SS-Stubaf, Ia, SS-Verfügungsdivision - campaign in the West
13.12.1940: SS-Ostubaf, Ia, SS-Verfügungsdivision
00.04.1941: SS-Ostubaf, campaign in the Balkans
00.06.1941: SS-Ostubaf, campaign in Russia - Uschakowo, Smolensk
13.09.1941: SS-Ostubaf, awarded the Ritterkreuz
00.02.1942-00.06.1942: SS-Ostubaf, Kdr, Kampfgruppe 'Reich'
05.06.1942: SS-Staf, awarded the Deutschen Kreuz in Gold
00.07.1942-22.11.1943: SS-Staf, Generalstabschef, SS-Panzer-Korps - KharkoV
26.11.1943: SS-Oberführer, Führer, 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Götz von Berlichingen', France
20.04.1944: SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS, Kdr, 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Götz von Berlichingen', France
00.06.1944: Battle of Normandie, Carentan
15.06.1944: severely WIA at Carentan and evacuated
01.12.1944-22.01.1945: SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS, Chef des Stabes, Heeresgruppe "Oberrhein"
05.02.1945: SS-Gruf, Kommandeur, 2. SS-Panzer-Division - Hungary
09.03.1945: severely WIA in Stuhlweißenburg, Székesfehérvár, Hungary and evacuated
05.05.1945: DOW in Reserve-Lazarett in Bad Aussee

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Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Awarded on:

1939

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Awarded on:

1939

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Awarded on:

October 1st, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)

Awarded on:

May 19th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)

Awarded on:

June 23rd, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Awarded on:

1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)

Unit:

Ia, SS-Division "Reich", XXXXVI. Panzer-Korps, Panzergruppe 2, Heeresgruppe Mitte

Awarded on:

September 13th, 1941

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

“Starting from the 23.07.1941 the SS-Division ‘Reich’ (under the command of the XXXXVI. Armee-Korps (mot)) was involved in heavy defensive combat within the most easterly corner of the entire Ostfront around Yelnya. Its position was attacked by strong enemy forces with numerous tanks and strong (albeit inconsistent) artillery support. 5 enemy divisions with 2 tank regiments and 3 motorized regiments were confirmed as present.

A hotspot of the fighting was along the north-south road towards Dorogobusche, against which the enemy constantly fed in forces. A Russian success on the open flank of the Korps would endanger the positions of the entire XXXXVI. Armee-Korps (mot), including the 10. Pz.Div. and the SS-Division ‘Reich’.

On the 24.07.1941 possession of an important village along this road (Uschakowo) was lost twice by a Heer Pionier-Bataillon dispatched by the Korps. A counterattack by the Division’s SS-Pionier-Bataillon ordered by the divisional commander on the evening of that day restored the situation.

However at 21:00 a new enemy attack was launched against the SS-Pionieren. Telephone and radio communication links were interrupted, and the subordinated artillery Batterie had no more ammunition. The Division, with its 38 km front, could not spare any reserves. The situation became critical, and a Panzer-Kompanie was asked for and promised by the Armee-Korps as a last reserve.

SS-Obersturmbannführer Ostendorff begged for permission to personally drive forward to the threatened position, and after having done so he immediately began taking all necessary measures. He reported the details in the enclosed combat report. The situation was stabilized only through the intervention of SS-Obersturmbannführer Ostendorff. It should not be kept secret that a Kompanie commander had a breakdown. The Pionier-Bataillon commander, personally a brave man, lacked infantry experience and an overview of the difficult nocturnal fighting.

SS-Obersturmbannführer Ostendorff reconnoitred the enemy situation himself, dispatched recon patrols, oversaw the extraction and relocation of a Kompanie to a favourable jump-off point for the attack, and positioned the Sturmgeschütze, infantry heavy-machine guns and Panzers. Then he went forwards with the lead Züge into the enemy defensive fire.

In the dawn conditions he succeeded in recapturing the previous position and removing the danger of an enemy breakthrough from the north at the boundary of the XXXXVI. Armee-Korps.

SS-Obersturmbannführer Ostendorff is the first and oldest officer in the general staff of the Waffen-SS. He came from the 100,000 man Reichswehr army before transferring to the Luftwaffe and finally the Waffen-SS. During the formation of the Division in October 1939, and especially during operations in the West and in Serbia, he has fully proven himself. His abilities as a general staff officer grew alongside the Division, and all without him taking any general staff courses. He is especially worthy of recognition.”

488th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Standartenführer (Colonel)

Unit:

Kdr, Kampfgruppe SS "Reich"

Awarded on:

June 5th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Oberführer (Brigade General)

Awarded on:

October 1st, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 1944

WIA 15.06.1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Brigadeführer / Generalmajor der Waffen-SS (Brigadier)

Unit:

Kdr, 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division ‚Götz von Berlichingen‘

Awarded on:

July 29th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Gruppenführer / Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS (Lieutenant General)

Unit:

Kommandeur, 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich"

Awarded on:

May 6th, 1945

Awarded posthumously for the outstanding command of his Division during the fighting in Hungary.

Non numbered awarding by SS-Oberstgruppenführer and Generaloberst der Waffen-SS Sepp Dietrich, Oberbefehlshaber 6.SS-Panzerarmee. No confirmation in the Bundesarchiv. Would probably have been the 861st Award.

• Photo 1: wehrkundearchiv
• Photo: Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv
  
• - MOONEY, PETER, Waffen-SS Knights and their Battles, Schiffer Pub Ltd, 2008.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
  - 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
  - Das Reich - Microfilm Publication A3343. US National Archives.