Ludwig Spindler

SS-Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel) Ludwig Spindler (15 November 1910 – 27 December 1944) was a German Waffen-SS officer who served in the VT-SS Standarte Deutschland, 2. SS-Division Das Reich and the 9.SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen. He also commanded the Kampfgruppe Spindler during the Operation Market-Garden and won both the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and the German Cross in Gold.

Early life - pre-war SS service
Ludwig Spindler was born in München on 15 November 1910. He was a son of sculptor Thomas Müller and Therese Spindler. After completing school, Ludwig worked shortly as a dispatcher for SA Maffei A.G., before he became a member of the Landespolizei-Bayern (Bavarian uniformed police). Spindler remained a police officer until 30 November 1934, when he joined the SS-Verfügungstruppe and was assigned to the VT-SS Standarte Deutschland.

World War II service
With the 13. Kompanie of the VT SS Standarte Deutschland, Spindler participated in the invasion of Poland and the subsequent operations in the West; receiving the Iron Cross 2nd Class in October 1939. He remained with 2. SS-Division ‘’Das Reich’’ during Operation Barbarossa, commanding various units before being transferred to the 9.SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen on 1 March 1943. Initially, he was put in charge of the II. Battalion within SS-Panzer Artillerie Regiment 9, leading it during the operations around Tarnopol in April 1944. The division, a component of Hausser's II. SS-Panzerkorps, played an important role in the rescue of encircled German troops from the Kamenets-Podolsky Pocket. For his exemplary leadership during these operations SS-Sturmbannführer Spindler was recommended for the German Cross in Gold and received the command of the entire SS-Panzer Artillerie Regiment 9. After the Allied invasion of France, the II. SS-Panzerkorps, including the 9.SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen, was sent west to defend Caen in Normandy.

Arnhem
In September, the 9.SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen was ordered for repairs in the Netherlands and reached Arnhem on 9 September 1944. 17 September 1944 was bitter-sweet for Spindler; he was finally decorated with the German Cross in Gold for his heroic actions during the operations in Russia and above all in Normandy. However, it was on this day the Allies also launched Operation Market Garden. As the men of the British 1st Airborne Division were deployed in the vicinity of the village Oosterbeek, Spindler was tasked with preventing them from entering Arnhem. The Kampfgruppe (Battle Group) Spindler formed a defensive perimeter around the city, which was not breached by the British forces throughout the battle. Later on, the force under Spidler's command also launched an offensive, forcing the British to withdraw on 26 September 1944, an achievement for which Ludwig Spindler received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Death
Spindler remained with the Hohenstaufen and took part in the Battle of the Bulge. On 27 December 1944 Spindler was killed by Allied aircraft, which attacked his car, killing him instantly. He was buried at the Altenkirchen War Cemetery in Westerwald.

Personal life
Ludwig Spindler married C. Schöpf on 21 December 1936 and had one son, born on 2 March 1939. He was a Roman Catholic.

Dates of rank

 * SS-Obersturmführer d. R.:
 * SS-Hauptsturmführer d. R.:
 * SS-Sturmbannführer d. R.: 26 June 1943
 * SS-Obersturmbannführer d. R.: 11 November 1944

Notable decorations

 * German Cross in Gold (1944)
 * Eastern Front Medal (1942)
 * Iron Cross Second (1939) and First (1941) Classes
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (1944)
 * Infantry Assault Badge(1942)
 * Wound Badge in Black (1941)