Hans-Georg von Charpentier
Encyclopedia
Hans Georg von Charpentier was a Sturmbannführer
(Major) 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.
In his early years he was employed as a stall master in the Hippodrome
at Frankfurt
. Then from 1932 to 1935 he was on tour in Saarbrücken
, when on tour he joined the NSDAP in August 1933 (party number 1375222) and volunteered to join the SS-VT in May 1935 in Hagen
(SS number 258019). By the start of World War II he had been posted into the 3rd Squadron, 1st SS Totenkopf Cavalry Regiment.
2nd class in August 1941, fighting in the Soviet Union
during Operation Barbarossa
when he was the Reconnaissance troop commander the Iron Cross 1st class was awarded in January 1942.
In November 1942, he was given command of the 3rd Squadron, 15th SS Cavalry Regiment.
He was awarded the Knight's Cross in December 1942 when in command of the 3rd Squadron
von Charpentier did not survive the war, he was killed in action during the attempted breakout from Budapest
on the 9 March 1945.
Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party equivalent to major, used both in the Sturmabteilung and the Schutzstaffel...
(Major) 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.
Early life
Hans Georg von Charpentier was born in Strassburg on the 16 July 1902.In his early years he was employed as a stall master in the Hippodrome
Hippodrome
A hippodrome was a Greek stadium for horse racing and chariot racing. The name is derived from the Greek words "hippos and "dromos"...
at Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
. Then from 1932 to 1935 he was on tour in Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken is the capital of the state of Saarland in Germany. The city is situated at the heart of a metropolitan area that borders on the west on Dillingen and to the north-east on Neunkirchen, where most of the people of the Saarland live....
, when on tour he joined the NSDAP in August 1933 (party number 1375222) and volunteered to join the SS-VT in May 1935 in Hagen
Hagen
Hagen is the 39th-largest city in Germany, located in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is located on the eastern edge of the Ruhr area, 15 km south of Dortmund, where the rivers Lenne, Volme and Ennepe meet the river Ruhr...
(SS number 258019). By the start of World War II he had been posted into the 3rd Squadron, 1st SS Totenkopf Cavalry Regiment.
World War II
In World War II Von Charpentier was selected to become an officer and promoted to Untersturmfuhrer (Second Lieutenant) in October 1940, he was awarded the Iron CrossIron 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 August 1941, fighting in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
during Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
when he was the Reconnaissance troop commander the Iron Cross 1st class was awarded in January 1942.
In November 1942, he was given command of the 3rd Squadron, 15th SS Cavalry Regiment.
He was awarded the Knight's Cross in December 1942 when in command of the 3rd Squadron
von Charpentier did not survive the war, he was killed in action during the attempted breakout from Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
on the 9 March 1945.
Assignments
- 1st SS Totenkopf Cavalry Regiment
- 3rd Squadron, 1st SS Cavalry Regiment, platoon commander 5.12.1939
- 1st SS Cavalry Regiment, Adjutant 15.08.1941
- 1st Cavalry Regiment, Squadron Commander, SS Cavalry Division 15.12.1941
- 3rd Squadron, 1st SS Cavalry Regiment Commander, SS Cavalry Division November 1942
- 18th SS Cavalry Regiment, 8th SS Cavalry Division Commander