Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

February 11th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 21st, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 9th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

November 8th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Sturmbannführer / Major der Schutzpolizei

Unit:

Kommandeur, II. Bataillon, SS-Polizei-Regiment 14, XXXX. Panzer-Korps

Awarded on:

March 17th, 1945

Landwehr’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“Repeated attacks against the Neiße bridgehead at Markersdorf-Gastrose all failed with heavy friendly losses. The enemy had managed to gain a foothold here by crossing over the road bridge at Markersdorf (which failed to detonate) before the Korps took over command of the area. The enemy constantly pushed reinforcements into the bridgehead, which was simultaneously also becoming increasingly well defended by heavy weapons including artillery and anti-tank guns in the last days.

A new friendly attack was launched late on the afternoon of the 24.02.1945. The goal was to recapture the bridge and permanently wreck it before crushing the bridgehead itself. The main assaulting units crashed against very determined resistance west and northwest of the bridge at Markersdorf. The Regiment 983, which was attacking at this location, became temporarily bogged down. Immediately adjacent to the north of this unit was the II./Pol.Rgt. 14, which attacked towards the Neiße dam south of Gastrose in order to cover the northern flank of the main attack and maintain contact with the assault group attacking Gr. Gastrose from the north. Determinedly pressing ahead, the Bataillon almost reached its attack objective (the Neiße dam) in the face of initially weak resistance.

Close to the onset of night the Bataillon commander, Major der Schutz-Polizei Paul Landwehr, realized in spite of the fading light that the rightly adjacent Regiment 983 was not coming forward due to the heavy fighting it found itself in. However all the available demolition troops were attached to this unit. North of his position Landwehr could hear heavy combat noises, signifying that Gr. Gastrose was still being heavily contested. Nonetheless he swiftly decided to strike southwards, accepting the risk posed by his weak northern flank opposite Gastrose. Deviating from his original mission, he began a surprise attack along the road to the south towards the road bridge with 2 Kompanien. He was able to securely capture it, and he assigned an ordnance officer the task of finding a demolition troop behind the left wing of the stalled Regiment 983. This task was carried out. The demolition troop was brought up and it detonated the first charge on the bridge under covering fire from Landwehr’s Kompanien. Another demolition troop arrived, and subsequently a gap of about 20 metres was blown in the concrete bridge. The success of this day, conducted under difficult circumstances and with great risk, is solely creditable to the independent action shown by Major der Schutz-Polizei Paul Landwehr.

With the destruction of the enemy’s only available bridge south of Guben, the hostile intent to push strong forces (including tanks) into the bridgehead was prevented, and the considerable danger posed by a strong, swift enemy thrust into the rear of the Neiße front south of Guben was definitively removed.

As such I wish to recommend Major der Schutz-Polizei Paul Landwehr for the award of the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross. One sketch is attached.”

Awarded posthumously.