Date of birth:

July 15th, 1919 (Gelenkirchen-Buer, Germany)

Date of death:

July 10th, 2012 (Gelsenkirchen, Germany)

Service number:

SS-Nr.: // NSDAP-Nr.:

Nationality:

German

00.00.1934: Hitlerjugend
01.11.1936-31.10.1937: RAD
01.11.1937: 10. Sturm, SS-Standarte 'Germania'
00.00.1938: SS-Funker, Aufklärungszug, 10. Sturm, SS-Standarte 'Germania'
00.09.1939: campaign in Poland
01.11.1939: promoted to SS-Sturmmann
01.04.1940: promoted to SS-Rottenführer
00.03.1941: SS-Regiment 'Germania', SS-Division 'Reich' - campaign in the Balkans
00.06.1941: campaign in Russia
00.11.1941: Battle for Moscow
01.02.1943: promoted to SS-Unterscharführer, Panzerkommandant, SS-Panzer-Regiment 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich' - Battle for Kursk
00.06.1944: SS-Standartenoberjunker, Zugführer, II. Zug, 2. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich' - battle of Normandy - Falaise, La Baleine - Operation Lüttich
00.12.1944: SS-Ustuf, Chef, 2. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich' - Battle of the Bulge
00.01.1945: promoted to SS-Obersturmführer
Tank ace credited with 9 tank kills

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Awarded on:

1939

Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS- Rottenführer (Corporal)

Awarded on:

August 10th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS- Rottenführer (Corporal)

Awarded on:

December 15th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

in silver

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Standartenoberjunker

Unit:

Zugführer, 2. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 "Das Reich", 2. SS-Panzer-Division “Das Reich”, 7. Armee, Heeresgruppe B

Awarded on:

August 27th, 1944

The following wartime excerpt describes why Langanke would be awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“SS-Standartenoberjunker Langanke, Zugführer in the II./SS-Pz.Rgt. 2, was separated from his Abteilung along with 3 Panthers on the 28.07.1944. In this time he made the independent decision to rally 300 Heer Grenadiers and launch a breakout attempt on the night of the 29./30.07.1944. Advancing via St. Denis he personally destroyed 13 tanks, 4 anti-tank guns, 8 halftracks and 10 trucks over a series of hard yet successful engagements. Ultimately he managed to make it back to friendly lines while also clearing open the way to freedom for many other units including a self-propelled Flak-Batterie (with five 3.7 cm guns), 2 Grille SPGs, 3 Sturmgeschützen and 29 trucks.”

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• Photo 2:
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - SCHNEIDER, J.W., Their Honor Was Loyalty!, Bender (R.James) Publishing, 1993.
  - Microfilm Publication A3343. US National Archives.