Spindler, Ludwig (Waffen SS)
- Date of birth:
- November 15th, 1910 (Munich/Bavaria, Germany)
- Date of death:
- December 27th, 1944 (In the Ardennes, Belgium)
- Buried on:
- German War Graves Altenkirchen
Grave: 156.
- Service number:
- SS-Nr.: 265.466 // NSDAP-Nr.: 3.971.643
- Nationality:
- German
Biography
01.04.1929-30.11.1934: Landespolizei-Bayern
01.04.1933: promoted to Wachtmeister der Polizei
30.11.1934: joined the SS-Standarte 'Deutschland', SS-Verfügungstruppe
17.09.1939: 13. Kompanie, SS-Standarte 'Deutschland', SS-Verfügungstruppe - campaign in Poland
00.06.1941: 13. Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment 'Deutschland', 2. SS-Division ‘’Das Reich’’
01.03.1943-27.12.1944: transferred to the II. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 9, 9. SS-Panzer-Division 'Hohenstaufen'
26.06.1943: promoted to SS-Sturmbannführer d. R.
00.04.1944: Kdr, II. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 9, 9. SS-Panzer-Division 'Hohenstaufen', II. SS-Panzerkorps in Tarnopol and the Kamenets-Podolsky Pocket
00.06.1944: Kdr, II. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 9, 9. SS-Panzer-Division 'Hohenstaufen', sent to Caen in Normandy.
09.09.1944: SS-Stubaf, Führer, I. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 9, 9. SS-Panzer-Division "Hohenstaufen", deployed in Arnhem, Holland
17.09.1944: Kdr, Kampfgruppe (Battle Group) 'Spindler', defense of Arnhem, Oosterbeek-sector during Operation Market Garden
18.09.1944-27.12.1944: Führer, SS-Artillerie-Regiment 9, 9. SS-Panzer-Division ‘Hohenstaufen’
11.11.1944: promoted to SS-Obersturmbannführer d. R.
27.12.1944: SS-Obersturmbannführer, killed by Allied aircraft, which attacked his car, killing him instantly during the Battle of the Bulge and buried in Altenkirchen
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Awarded the Knight’s Cross for his actions during the Battle of Arnhem. He was recommended for the award via a telex written by Wilhelm Bittrich (dated on the 25.09.1944), which is presented here as follows…
“SS-Sturmbannführer Spindler, a Kampfgruppe commander since the 23.07.1944, has led various alarm units from the Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine and Waffen-SS during the defense west of Arnhem. Through energetic leadership, skillful force deployment, bold decision-making and inexorable offensive drive he has contributed heavily to the crushing victory over the air-landed enemy troops north of the Rhine. A large number of prisoners and materiel have been captured and almost all by Kampfgruppe Spindler.
Through his singular performance, SS-Sturmbannführer Spindler was able to eliminate a reinforced English airborne division with hastily assembled alarm units while ruthlessly demanding the utmost of himself.
Spindler has repeatedly distinguished himself during the combat of the Division in the East and West. He is especially worthy of being awarded the Knight’s Cross.”
Sources
- Photo 1: Dobri Dobrev
- Photo 2:
- - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
- PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
- Kershaw, Robert J., It Never Snows in September, Sarpedon publishers, New York, United States, 1990
- das-ritterkreuz.de
- Axis Biographical Research
- Defending Arnhem
- Microfilm Publication A3343. US National Archives.