Hans Collani

Hans Collani (13 February 1908 – 29 July 1944) was a Standartenführer (Colonel) 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.

Early life
Hans Collani was born on the 13 February 1908, in Stettin. His father was a career officer in the Infantry and held the rank of Oberst (Colonel or Group Captain). (His brother who was killed in action over France in World War II would achieve the same rank in the Luftwaffe)

After leaving school in 1931, he worked in a merchant shipping office and travelled to Leningrad and Murmansk. He joined the NSDAP in 1932 and later joined the Sturmabteilung (SA) and then the Waffen SS.

Assigned to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler'' Regiment he served in the 1st Company from March 1933 and was promoted to Hauptsturmführer (Captain) in October 1933. He served as the Adjutant to the LSSAH commander Sepp Dietrich from February 1935 to November 1939.

World War II
He served in the Polish Campaign where he was awarded the Iron Cross II class in September 1939, and the Battle of France. He also took part in the Invasions of the Balkans (Operation Marita) and the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa) where he was awarded the Eastern Front Medal.

He was promoted to Sturmbannführer (Major) in March 1942 and awarded the Iron Cross I class in October. In February 1943, he was transferred to command the III (Finnish) Battalion/ SS Panzergrenadier Regiment Norland, 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking until July 1943 when the Finns returned home to Finland at the end of their contract. In the meantime he had in April 1943, been  promoted to Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel). In May 1943, he was transferred to command the SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 49 De Ruyter which was in the 23rd SS Panzergrenadier Division Nederland.

Hans Collani committed suicide when his command post was about to be overrun by the Red Army Leningrad Front on the Eastern Front in the Battle of Tannenberg Line on 29 July 1944.

He was awarded a posthumous Knight's Cross and promotion to Standartenführer (Colonel) for his bravery and leadership in the Narva battles in August 1944.

Awards and decorations

 * SS Honour Ring ("Totenkopf")
 * Sword of honor of the Reichsführer-SS
 * Iron Cross of 1939, 1st and 2nd class
 * Infantry Badge
 * Eastern Front Medal
 * German Cross in Gold (24 April 1944)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (19 August 1944, posthumously)