Johannes-Rudolf Mühlenkamp

Johannes-Rudolf Mühlenkamp (1910–1986) was a Standartenführer (Colonel) in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on September 21, 1944.

Early life
Mühlenkamp was born on 9 October 1910 in Montigny-lès-Metz, Alsace-Lorraine. He was one of the early members of the NSDAP and the SS, joining on April 1933. Mühlenkamp was given the party number 2 800 042 and the SS service number 86 065. He was first assigned to the 4th SS Standarte Schleswig Holstein in Hamburg before being moved to the 2nd SS Standarte of the SS-Verfügungstruppe in 1934. Then, Mühlenkamp had been selected to become an officer in 1935. He was sent to the SS junker school at Braunschweig.

From April to May 1936, Mühlenkamp completed motorcycle training with the Heers 2nd Panzer Division, being highly successful in pre World War II motorcycle competitions. On completion of his officer training, Mühlenkamp was assigned to the 2nd Battalion of the Germania Regiment (5th SS Panzer Division Wiking) as a platoon leader on November 1937. Mühlenkamp took over command of the Motor Cycle Company on May 1938.

World War II
At the eve of the war, Mühlenkamp was the Divisional Adjutant of the SS-Verfügungstruppe Division, until December 1940, when he was given the command of the Reich Division Reconnaissance Battalion. Mühlenkamp was seriously wounded in the head by artillery shrapnel near Jelnja, Russia. Hospitalized between October and February 1942, Mühlenkamp missed the first Russian winter of the war. On his release from hospital, Johannes Mühlenkamp was assigned to the 5th SS Panzer Grenadier Division Wiking, as Panzer Battalion commander, until March 1943. When the number of soldiers from the battalion have been increased, the battalion was converted into a regiment. On August 1944, Mühlenkamp was given the command of the 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking. He commanded this unit until October 1944. Then, Mühlenkamp was promoted Inspector of Waffen SS Panzer troops in the SS-Führungshauptamt. His last command was the 32. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division from January 1945 to February 1945.

Promotions

 * SS-Standartenführer : 20 Apr. 1944
 * SS-Obersturmbannführer : 30 Jan. 1943
 * SS-Sturmbannführer : 30 Jan. 1942
 * SS-Hauptsturmführer : 30 Jun. 1939
 * SS-Obersturmführer : 9 Nov. 1937
 * SS-Untersturmführer : 20 Apr. 1936

Decorations and Awards

 * Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes : 3 Sep. 1942, as SS-Sturmbannführer and Kommandeur, SS-Panzer-Abteilung / SS-Division "Wiking" / LVII.Armee-Korps / 1.Panzer-Armee/Heeresgruppe A
 * Mit Eichenlaub (Nr. 596) : 21 Sep. 1944, as SS-Standartenführer and Kommandeur, 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" / IV.SS-Pz.Korps / Heeresgruppe Mitte
 * Deutsches Kreuz in Gold : 2. Jan. 1942
 * Eisernes Kreuz 1939, 1st class : 11. Nov. 1939
 * Eisernes Kreuz 1939, 2nd class : 3. Oct. 1939
 * Mentioned in official Wehrmachtbericht : 11 Jul. 1944 (for his units destruction of 103 Soviet tanks at Maciejow)
 * Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Gold: 13. Jan. 1943
 * Panzerkampfabzeichen
 * SS-Dienstauszeichnungen
 * Ehrendegen des RF SS
 * Totenkopfring der SS
 * Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir