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Dehmel, Ernst (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:
April 7th, 1915 (Hilden/Rhineprovince, Germany)
Date of death:
August 7th, 1945 (Remscheid-Lüttringhausen/Rhineprovince, Germany)
Service number:
SS-Nr.: 133.681 // NSDAP-Nr.:
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
09.11.1944: SS-Sturmbannführer

Career:
00.00.1937-00.00.1938: SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig
00.07.1943: stellvertretender Führer, Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 3 "Totenkopf"
22.10.1943: Lazerett
00.00.1944: Lehrer, SS-Artillerie-Schule, Janowitz-Vrchotovy/Beneschau
07.08.1945: beaten to death by French soldiers while POW at Remscheid-Lüttringhausen
Credited with 25 tank kills

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
June 22nd, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 1st, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Unit:
stellvertretender Führer, Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 3 "Totenkopf", SS-Pz.Gren.Div. "Totenkopf", AOK 6, Heeresgruppe Süd
Awarded on:
August 15th, 1943
Dehmel’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“On the 11.07.1943 the Bolsheviks conducted a major armoured attack against the positions of the SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. ‘Theodor Eicke’ in order to cut off the SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. ‘Totenkopf’, which had crossed the Psel river. The front of the SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. ‘Theodor Eicke’ was weak due to the numerous casualties it had sustained, and so the Bolsheviks succeeded in breaking through it.

In this extremely critical situation SS-Hauptsturmführer Dehmel decided to gather up the rest of his Abteilung and commence a counterthrust, even though he had been shot through the arm and shoulder and was consequently weakened by the loss of so much blood.

Fighting heroically, he and his men destroyed 25 T-34s and forced the rest of the Russian tanks to retreat. A renewed Bolshevik attack was crushed with the loss of a further 22 T-34s, and with this the hopes for a Bolshevik success in this important sector were finally dashed.

Through his brave deed SS-Hauptsturmführer Debus prevented the enemy’s dangerous flanking attack, which had the goal of cutting off the elements of the SS-Pz.Gren.Div. ‘Totenkopf’ that were located on the far side of the Psel.

In light of his heroic devotion to duty and its associated success I ask that SS-Hauptsturmführer Dehmel be awarded the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1943
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
Medaille

Sources