Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 25th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 17th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

March 25th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 24th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Führer, II. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 21, 10. SS-Panzer-Division "Frundsberg", Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

November 14th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)

Unit:

Kommandeur, III. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 21, 10. SS-Panzer-Division "Frundsberg", Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

May 9th, 1945

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

“It is requested that the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross be awarded to SS-Sturmbannführer Richter, commander of the III./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 21.

On the 04.03.1945 SS-Sturmbannführer Richter and his men (namely a Kampfgruppe of the SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 21) were tasked with blocking the enemy’s advance along the general line Hohenschönau—Küss—Gr. Sabow, a distance of about 18 km. Just before encountering this line the enemy reached the village of Wilhelmfelde (located 1.5 km east of Naugard) with tanks and infantry. In this situation SS-Sturmbannführer Richter decided to take all available forces located south of Naugard and reposition them to the east and immediate south of Naugard (he did so whilst fully aware that this would leave his right flank extremely vulnerable).

In the fighting which followed he and his men repelled numerous attacks by the enemy, destroying 12 tanks in the process via Panzerfausts. 2 enemy thrusts aimed in the direction of the Reichsstrasse were also smashed in combat along the southern edge of Naugard.

Richter’s initiative and fearlessness in this battle (one in which he was personally wounded) thwarted the enemy’s attempted breakthrough via Naugard in the direction of the Naugard—Gollnow highway. This feat bought the Regiment time to construct a solid defensive frontline.”

The nomination by the troop via teleprinter message was sent on 25-3-1945, according to file card on 28-3-1945, according to the book "Verliehene Ritterkreuze" (Awarded Knight Crosses) on 5-4-1945. The nomination was returned to the HPA/P5a (Army personnel office) by SS-Obersturmbannführer Wilhelm Kment, the adjutant of Heinrich Himmler and liaison officer to the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office), with the approval of Himmler on 29-4-1945. Retained by the German Federal Archives are four identical copies listing the approval of Friedrich Richter's divisional commander Heinz Harmel and the Reichsführer SS, as well as three almost finished nominations by the HPA. Missing is the confirmation of the commander-in-chief of the 9. Armee and Army Group Vistula. The nomination of the HPA Nr. 4729 is listed in the book "Verliehene Ritterkreuze" (Awarded Knight Crosses), however lacks reference to this number and remained unfinished by the end of the war. The order commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) processed this case in 1977 and decided "Knight's Cross yes, 6-5-1945". Fellgiebel later changed this date again. Krätschmer lists the 9-5-1945. Richter was a member of the OdR.