Kempas, Traugott

Date of birth:: August 27th, 1919 (Trappöhnen/East Prussia, Germany)
Date of death:: March 13th, 1945 (Rosenwalde/Heiligenbeil/East Prussia, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

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Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: July 8th, 1941

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: August 29th, 1941

Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:: Adjudant Grenadier-Regiment 176 / 61. Infanterie-Division / III. SS-Panzer-Korps
Awarded on:: April 24th, 1944

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:: Kommandeur I. / Grenadier-Regiment 176 / 61. Infanterie-Division / III. SS-Panzer-Korps
Awarded on:: December 9th, 1944

Awarded for distinguishing himself during the defense and retreat battles at the Segewold position in September 1944, specifically around the village of Variku.

Anerkennungsurkunde des Oberbefehlshabers des Heeres

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: February 25th, 1945

Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: February 25th, 1945

Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:: Kommandeur I. / Grenadier-Regiment 176 / 61. Infanterie-Division / III. SS-Panzer-Korps
Awarded on:: February 28th, 1945

On the 19.01.1945 the 61. Infanterie-Division was forced to fall back to the Angerapp position. On the 22.01.1945 Kempas and his Bataillon found themselves cut off from their parent division, which had been pushed to the south. With his men Hauptmann Kempas fought through strong Soviet forces and reached friendly lines intact. For this act he would be decorated with the Oakleaves.

757th Award

Nahkampfspange in Gold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:: Bataillons-Kommandeur I. / Grenadier-Regiment 176 / 61. Infanterie-Division / III. SS-Panzer-Korps
Awarded on:: March 8th, 1945

Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Verwundetenabzeichen 1939

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Nahkampfspange in Bronze

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: June 1st, 1943

Nahkampfspange in Silber

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Sources

Photo 1: Igor Poul
- THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1997.
- Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht.
- Dörr M., Die träger der Nahkampfspange in Gold, Heer- Luftwaffe- Waffen-SS 1943-1945, Biblio Verlag Bisendorf, 2006.