Otto Paetsch
Encyclopedia
Otto Paetsch was a Standartenführer
(Colonel) in the Waffen SS who was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves
during World War II
.
Paetsch was born on the 3 August 1909, at Rheinhausen. In his early life he studied Theology
at Tübingen
Evangelical college.
In 1931 he volunteered for the SS and was posted to the Germania Regiment promoted on 20 April 1936 to Untersturmführer
(Second Lieutenant) and made a platoon leader in the 15th Company, Germania Regiment, and promoted again in April 1940 to Hauptsturmführer
(Captain) and given command of the 15th Company.
After the Battle of France
the Germania Regiment was used as the basis of a new SS division 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking
, which from June 1941 fought in Operation Barbarossa
the invasion of Russia
, when he was given command of the Reconnaissance Battalion in December 1941.
On 20 April 1942, he was promoted to Sturmbannführer
(Major) and awarded the German Cross in Gold for bravery.
He was made the commander of the 10th SS Panzer Regiment and promoted to Obersturmbannführer
(Lieutenant Colonel), 3 November 1943.
From June 1944 he led his regiment in Normandy
, and distinguished himself in the fighting in the Avranches
area and the breakout from Falaise
(Falaise Pocket
) for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross.
In the autumn of 1944 he fought at Arnhem
(Operation Market Garden
) against the British 1st Airborne Division
and in early 1945
was involved in the fighting in Pomerania
, where on 16 March 1945 at Altdamm, he was fatally wounded.
For the successful fighting at the Hagenau bridgehead and at Stettin in May 1945 he was awarded a posthumous award of the Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross and promoted to Standartenführer
.
Standartenführer
Standartenführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was used in the so-called Nazi combat-organisations: SA, SS, NSKK and the NSFK...
(Colonel) in the Waffen SS who was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves
Knight's Cross
Knight's Cross refers to a distinguishing grade or level of various orders that denotes bravery and leadership on the battlefield....
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...
.
Paetsch was born on the 3 August 1909, at Rheinhausen. In his early life he studied Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
Evangelical college.
In 1931 he volunteered for the SS and was posted to the Germania Regiment promoted on 20 April 1936 to Untersturmführer
Untersturmführer
Untersturmführer 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...
(Second Lieutenant) and made a platoon leader in the 15th Company, Germania Regiment, and promoted again in April 1940 to Hauptsturmführer
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) and given command of the 15th Company.
After the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
the Germania Regiment was used as the basis of a new SS division 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking
5th SS Panzer Division Wiking
The 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking was one of the elite Panzer divisions of the thirty eight Waffen SS divisions. It was recruited from foreign volunteers, from Scandinavia, Finland, Estonia, The Netherlands, and Belgium under the command of German officers...
, which from June 1941 fought in 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...
the invasion of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, when he was given command of the Reconnaissance Battalion in December 1941.
On 20 April 1942, he was promoted to Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party equivalent to major, used both in the Sturmabteilung and the Schutzstaffel...
(Major) and awarded the German Cross in Gold for bravery.
He was made the commander of the 10th SS Panzer Regiment and promoted to Obersturmbannführer
Obersturmbannführer
Obersturmbannführer was a paramilitary Nazi Party rank used by both the SA and the SS. It was created in May 1933 to fill the need for an additional field grade officer rank above Sturmbannführer as the SA expanded. It became an SS rank at the same time...
(Lieutenant Colonel), 3 November 1943.
From June 1944 he led his regiment in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, and distinguished himself in the fighting in the Avranches
Avranches
Avranches is a commune in the Manche department in the Basse-Normandie region in north-western France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. The inhabitants are called Avranchinais.-History:...
area and the breakout from Falaise
Falaise, Calvados
Falaise is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-History:The town was the birthplace of William I the Conqueror, first of the Norman Kings of England. The Château de Falaise , which overlooks the town from a high crag, was formerly the seat of...
(Falaise Pocket
Falaise pocket
The battle of the Falaise Pocket, fought during the Second World War from 12 to 21 August 1944, was the decisive engagement of the Battle of Normandy...
) for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross.
In the autumn of 1944 he fought at Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
(Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
) against the British 1st Airborne Division
British 1st Airborne Division
The 1st Airborne Division was a division of the British airborne forces during the Second World War. The division was formed in 1941, after British Prime Minister Winston Churchill demanded an airborne force...
and in early 1945
was involved in the fighting in Pomerania
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
, where on 16 March 1945 at Altdamm, he was fatally wounded.
For the successful fighting at the Hagenau bridgehead and at Stettin in May 1945 he was awarded a posthumous award of the Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross and promoted to Standartenführer
Standartenführer
Standartenführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was used in the so-called Nazi combat-organisations: SA, SS, NSKK and the NSFK...
.