Franz Josef Krombholz
Encyclopedia
Franz-Josef Krombholz was a Hauptsturmführer
(Captain) in the Waffen SS during World War II
. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany
during World War II.
Franz Josef Krombholz was born on the 13 August 1920, in Horní Police
in Czechoslovakia
. He volunteered to join the SS-VT and served in the 7th SS Gebirgs Division Prinz Eugen
He was awarded the Iron Cross
2nd class in July 1941 followed by the Iron Cross 1st class in November 1941. He then took over command of the II.Battalion, 14th SS Gebirgs Regiment, 7th SS Gebirgs Division Prinz Eugen in November 1943.
It was while in command of the III.Battalion that he was awarded the German Cross
in Gold in April 1944. He was transferred to command the III.Battalion, 14th SS Gebirgs Regiment in October 1944 and was awarded the Knight's Cross in March 1945, while fighting on the Balkan front.
Franz Josef Krombholz survived the war and died on the 13 December 2000.
Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...
(Captain) in the Waffen SS during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
during World War II.
Franz Josef Krombholz was born on the 13 August 1920, in Horní Police
Horní Police
Horní Police is a village and municipality in Česká Lípa District in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic.-Notes:...
in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. He volunteered to join the SS-VT and served in the 7th SS Gebirgs Division Prinz Eugen
He was awarded the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
2nd class in July 1941 followed by the Iron Cross 1st class in November 1941. He then took over command of the II.Battalion, 14th SS Gebirgs Regiment, 7th SS Gebirgs Division Prinz Eugen in November 1943.
It was while in command of the III.Battalion that he was awarded the German Cross
German Cross
The German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold in April 1944. He was transferred to command the III.Battalion, 14th SS Gebirgs Regiment in October 1944 and was awarded the Knight's Cross in March 1945, while fighting on the Balkan front.
Franz Josef Krombholz survived the war and died on the 13 December 2000.
Dates of rank
- HJ-Gefolgschaftsführer - 1938
- SS-SturmmannSturmmannSturmmann was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was first created in the year 1921. The rank of Sturmmann was used by the Sturmabteilung and the Schutzstaffel ....
- SS-Unterscharführer der Waffen-SSUnterscharführerUnterscharführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party used by the Schutzstaffel between 1934 and 1945. The SS rank was created after the Night of the Long Knives...
- September 1, 1941 - SS-Untersturmführer d. R. der Waffen-SSUntersturmführerUntersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the German Schutzstaffel first created in July 1934. The rank can trace its origins to the older SA rank of Sturmführer which had existed since the founding of the SA in 1921...
- December 21, 1942 - SS-Obersturmführer d. R. der Waffen-SSObersturmführerObersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi party that was used by the SS and also as a rank of the SA. Translated as “Senior Assault Leader”, the rank of Obersturmführer was first created in 1932 as the result of an expansion of the Sturmabteilung and the need for an additional rank in...
- November 9, 1943 - SS-Hauptsturmführer d. R. der Waffen-SSHauptsturmführerHauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...
- November 9, 1944
Notable decorations
- Infantry Assault BadgeInfantry Assault BadgeThe Infantry Assault Badge was a German war badge awarded to Waffen SS and Wehrmacht Heer soldiers during WWII. This decoration was instituted on December 20th 1939 by the Oberstbefehlshaber des Heeres, Generalfeldmarschall von Brauchitsch...
in Silver (1942) - Wound BadgeWound BadgeWound Badge was a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Imperial German Army in World War I, the Reichswehr between the wars, and the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied...
in Black (1939) - Wound Badge in Silver (1939)
- German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold (1944) - Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
2nd Class (1939) - Iron Cross 1st Class (1939)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
(1945) - Close Combat ClaspClose Combat ClaspThe Close Combat Clasp is a German military award instituted on 25 November 1942 for achievement in hand to hand fighting in close quarters. The Close Combat Clasp was worn above the upper left uniform pocket...
in Bronze (1944) - Close Combat ClaspClose Combat ClaspThe Close Combat Clasp is a German military award instituted on 25 November 1942 for achievement in hand to hand fighting in close quarters. The Close Combat Clasp was worn above the upper left uniform pocket...
in Silver (1944) - Anschluss MedalAnschluss MedalThe Anschluss Commemorative Medal was a decoration of Nazi Germany awarded in the interwar period.-Description:Instituted on May 1, 1938, the medal commemorated the return of Austria to the German Reich...
(1940) - Croatian Order of the Iron TrefoilMilitary Order of the Iron TrefoilMilitary Order of the Iron Trefoil , also known under name Croatian Cross, was the highest military decoration of Independent State of Croatia, and it was rewarded for "acts of war, achieved by personal incentive, for efforts and good leadership in ventures, which had remarkable success against the...
, 4th. Class (1943)