Otto Kron

Otto Wilhelm Kron was an Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel) in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. This was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Early life
Otto Wilhelm Kron was born in Speyer, Rheinpfalz on the 28 February 1911. He studied Law at the University of Würzburg and was one of the early members of the Allgemeine-SS joining on the 1 October 1931 (SS number 31.441), he later joined the NSDAP on the 1 May 1933 (Party number 3.061.726). Otto Kron quickly rose through the ranks of the SS and by 1935 he had been selected to become an officer and was promoted to Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) and was assigned to the SS-Totenkopfverbände (concentration camps guards) in Oberbayern at Dachau in 1937 and 1938.

On the 13 March 1938 he was involved in the Anschluss of Austria and in October 1938 the occupation of the Sudetenland.

World War II
After the Polish Campaign Otto Kron was one of the cadre member of the SS Totenkopf Division when it was formed in October 1939, being given command of the 4th Company, Totenkopf, he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class in June 1940 for the Battle of France.

Otto Kron was also involved in the invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa) being awarded the Iron Cross 1st class in December 1941 and the Eastern Front Medal awarded to all who suffered through the first Russian winter of the war in 1941/42 and awarded the Knight's Cross in August 1942, while in command of the 3rd SS Flak Battalion.

In April 1943 he took over command of the 3rd SS Reconnaissance Battalion, SS Totenkopf. During the Battle of Kharkov, Kron was severely wounded and served the rest of the war in Germany with a shortened stiff leg.

Post War
Otto Kron survived the war and died at Dachau on the 9 August 1955.