Fritz Langanke

Fritz Langanke (15 July 1919 – 10 July 2012) was an Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant), in the Waffen SS during World War II who 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.

Langanke was born on 15 July 1919, in Gelsenkirchen. He volunteered to join the SS and was posted to the 10th Company, Germania Standarte in 1937. In 1938 he transferred to the newly formed Panzer Reconnaissance platoon, as a radio operator, and later as a vehicle commander.

He was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class in December 1940 and the 1st class award in December 1941. In 1942 he transferred to the Panzer Battalion and served as a Panzer commander in the Reconnaissance Platoon. In late 1943 the division was reformed and Langanke was assigned to I.Battalion, SS Division Das Reich 2nd Panzer Regiment as an Ordonnance officer until the Normandy Landings. For his part in ensuring that hundreds of soldiers and their equipment managed to escape from the Falaise Pocket. Fritz Langanke was recommended for the Knight's Cross on August 7, 1944. Which he was awarded on the 27 August 1944. He took command of the 2nd Company on December 25, 1944 and remained at this post till the end of the war.

Langanke survived the war and died on July 10, 2012 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.