Franke, Kurt Wilhelm Hermann (Waffen SS)
- Date of birth:
- June 13th, 1913 (Wurzen/Saxony, Germany)
- Date of death:
- January 19th, 1945 (Veszprem, Hungary)
- Buried on:
- German War Graves Veszprém
Plot: 2. Row: 4. Grave: 96. - Service number:
- SS Nr.: 70.826 // NSDAP-Nr.:
- Nationality:
- German
Biography
00.00.1935: entered the SS-VT
00.00.1936-00.00.1938: SS-Scharführer in Buchenwald KZ
00.00.1939: SS-Division 'Totenkopf'
00.05.1940-00.06.1940: French Campaign - Arras
00.06.1940: WIA
00.10.1941: WIA
00.04.1942: WIA in the Demjansk pocket and evacuated by aircraft
00.01.1943: sent to Kharkov with 3. SS-Panzer-Division TK - II. SS-Panzerkorps
00.06.1943: SS-Hauptscharführer - Zugführer - 11. Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6
00.10.1943: Führer - 11. Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6
00.01.1944: SS-Hauptscharführer und Ordonnanz-Offizier - Bataillon / SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6
20.04.1944: promoted to SS-Untersturmführer
09.11.1944: promoted to SS-Obersturmführer
22.12.1944: sent to Budapest, Hungary - IV. SS-Panzer-Korps
19.01.1945: severely WIA and DOW in the Divisionslazarett in Veszprem
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Bronzes SA-Sportabzeichen
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
- Unit:
- Zugtruppführer, SS-Division 'Totenkopf'
- Awarded on:
- June 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
- Unit:
- Zugtruppführer, SS-Division 'Totenkopf'
- Awarded on:
- June 22nd, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- May 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant)
- Awarded on:
- July 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- October 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Hauptscharführer (Sergeant Major)
- Awarded on:
- May 7th, 1943
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Hauptscharführer (Sergeant Major)
- Unit:
- Stoßtruppführer, 11. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6 'Theodor Eicke', 3. SS-Division 'Totenkopf'
- Awarded on:
- October 3rd, 1943
“On the 18.08.1943 the III./ SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. ‘Theodor Eicke’ had the mission of creating a bridgehead over the Merla creek. Despite attempting every possible offensive option the Bataillon’s attack stalled in the woods west of Karaikosowka under powerful enemy defensive fire. Heavy friendly losses were sustained.
Therefore, early on the 19.08.1943, SS-Hauptscharführer Franke received a new mission. He was to lead a patrol against the village of Oleinikoff in order to determine the precise layout of the enemy positions on the western bank of the Merla.
Along with his patrol Franke worked his way towards the village along the only slightly elevated (yet coverless) swamp in the face of heavy enemy frontal and flanking fire. After taking out a forward enemy security post Franke made the bold decision to penetrate into the village. Taking no heed of the strong enemy fire, he fought his way into Oleinikoff at the head of his men. He created a small bridgehead here and held it against tremendous enemy defensive fire and numerous counterthrusts until reinforcements were finally brought up across the 2 km wide swampland.
Through his independent decision SS-Hauptscharführer Franke laid the groundwork for the establishment of SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. ‘Theodor Eicke’’s bridgehead. It was from this bridgehead that a thrust would eventually be launched to the northwest, and this would lead to the establishment of contact with the Pz.Gren.Div. ‘Großdeutschland’, which was at the time thrusting towards the southeast from Achtyrka.”
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Hauptscharführer (Sergeant Major)
- Awarded on:
- October 9th, 1943
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Hauptscharführer (Sergeant Major)
- Awarded on:
- December 20th, 1943
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Ordonnanz-Offizier, Kompanieführer, 11. Kompanie, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 6 'Theodor Eicke', 3. SS-Panzer-Division 'Totenkopf'
- Awarded on:
- December 18th, 1944
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Führer, III. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5 'Totenkopf'
- Awarded on:
- March 6th, 1945
Sources
- Photo 1: Wehrkundearchiv
- Photo: Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv
- - BERGER, F, The face of courage, Stackpole books, United States of America, 2007.
- MOONEY, PETER, Waffen-SS Knights and their Battles, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 2012.
- PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
- WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 2010.
- Dörr M., Die träger der Nahkampfspange in Gold, Heer- Luftwaffe- Waffen-SS 1943-1945, Biblio Verlag Bisendorf, 2006
- Divisionstagesbefehl Nr. 17/45
- Bundesarchiv via Archivsignatur RH 7_334 (slide #180): Vorschlag für die Verleihung der Nahkampfspange in Gold
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