Date of birth:

November 19th, 1917 (Münster/Westernphalia, Germany)

Date of death:

February 2nd, 1945 (Hungary)

Service number:

SS-Nr.: 323.804 // NSDAP-Nr.: 3.708.280

Nationality:

German

Promotions:
20.04.1939: SS-Untersturmführer
01.09.1940: SS-Obersturmführer
21.06.1942: SS-Hauptsturmführer
21.12.1944: SS-Sturmbannführer

Career:
01.01.1936: joined the NSDAP
30.10.1936-31.03.1937: RAD
01.04.1937: joined the SS
00.04.1937-31.03.1938: 2. Sturm, SS-Standarte „Germania", SS-Verfügungstruppe
01.04.1938-31.01.1939: SS-Junker, 6. Friedens-Junker-Lehrgang, SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig
00.02.1939: Zugführerlehrgang Dachau
01.05.1939: SS-Ustuf, SS-VT, 'Ellwangen'
10.06.1939: SS-Ustuf, MG-Abteilung, SS-Verfügungs-Division - campaign in Poland
00.05.1940: SS-Ustuf, 2 - campaign in the West
02.09.1940: SS-Ostuf, Flak-MG-Abteilung, SS-Verfügungs-Division
01.01.1941-10.03.1941: SS-Ostuf, Adjutant, SS-Flak-Abteilung, SS-Division „Reich" (mot.)
10.03.1941-01.04.1942: SS-Ostuf, Batteriechef, 2. Batterie, SS-Flak-Abteilung 2, 2. SS-Division „Das Reich"
06.09.1941: SS-Ostuf, fightings on the railway bridge upon the Desna River near Makoschin
01.04.1942-20.07.1943: SS-Ostuf, Taktiklehrer, SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig
20.07.1943-01.01.1944: SS-Hstuf, Taktiklehrer, SS-Panzergrenadierschule Prosetschnitz Kienschlag
01.01.1944: Führer-Reserve, SS-Führungs-Haupt-Amt
10.01.1944-10.04.1944: SS-Hstuf, Stab, 1. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler'
10.04.1944-02.05.1944: SS-Hstuf, Stab, General Kdo, XXXXVII. Panzer-Korps
02.05.1944: SS-Hstuf, Stab, III. (germ.) SS-Panzer-Korps
15.07.1944-20.08.1944: SS-Hstuf, Generalstab-Lehrgang, Kriegs-Akademie
00.12.1944: SS-Stubaf, Stab, IV. SS-Panzer-Korps, 9. Armee, Heeresgruppe Mitte - Warsaw 04.01.1945: SS-Stubaf, Ia, Stab, IV. SS-Panzer-Korps, 6. Armee, Heeresgruppe Mitte - Hungary - Operation Konrad 1–3, Budapest, Stuhlweißenburg - Operation Frühlingserwachen, Plattensee / Balaton Lake
02.02.1945: WIA and repoRted MIA - captured and probably shot on the spot by Soviet troops the same day another version mentions him WIA many times escaping the hospital

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Nr. 70.575

Nr.: 70.575

Awarded on:

1935

Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 18th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

November 27th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef, 2. Batterie, SS-Flak-Abteilung, SS-Division "Reich", Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

October 10th, 1941

408th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef, 2. Batterie, SS-Flak-Abteilung, SS-Division "Reich", Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

October 13th, 1941

Here follows an excerpt outlining the grounds for the award of the Knight’s Cross to SS-Obersturmführer Rentrop…

“SS-Obersturmführer Rentrop captured the railroad bridge over the Desna river in an action conducted on his own initiative. With a troop of only 4 men, he thrust through the strongly defended enemy locality of Makoschin, became the first German soldier to reach the bridge and then (under the most difficult of conditions) was able to capture it undamaged. Through his brave deed the continued advance of the SS-Division “Reich” over the Desna to the south was made possible, and in the process strong enemy forces (including 3 armoured trains) were cut off from their retreat route while still on the northern bank.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

• Photo 1: Known to STIWOT
• Photo 2:
• Photo 3:
• - DÖRR, M., Die Inhaber der Anerkennungsurkunde des Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres 1941-1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1993.
  - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1991.
  - Axis History Forum via Awardholders / unit