Rudolf Lehmann (SS officer)

Rudolf Lehmann (30 January 1914 – 13 September 1983) was a Standartenführer (Colonel) in the Waffen SS who was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Early life
Rudolf Lehmann was born on 30 January 1914 in Heidelberg, Germany. He joined the Waffen SS, attending officers training school in Bad Tölz in April 1935. He was then posted to the Germania Regiment as a platoon commander.

World War II
While serving with the Germania, Lehmann became the commander of the armored car platoon. On being promoted in April 1940, he was given the command of the 14th Company of the Germania Regiment. He was transferred to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler in October 1940.

Lehmann was recommended for the Knight's Cross by Theodor Wisch on account of his leadership of a battle group in the Zhitomir area of the Ukraine during December 1943.

In late 1944, Lehmann moved to the 1st SS Panzer Corps as chief of staff. He remained in this position until March 1945, when he was made divisional commander of the Das Reich. He led the division through Operation Frühlingserwachen, the battles around Vienna. It was while he was in command of Das Reich that he was awarded the Oakleaves to his Knight's Cross. Wounded during the fighting in Austria, Lehmann ended the war recovering from his injuries.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (15 November 1939)
 * 1st Class (29 May 1940)
 * German Cross in Gold (2 November 1943)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knights Cross on 23 February 1944 as SS-Obersturmbannführer and Ia (operations officer) of the 1. SS-Panzer-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"
 * 862nd Oak Leaves on 6 May 1945 as SS-Standartenführer and leader of the 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich"

Later life
Lehmann survived the war and died on 13 September 1983, in Ettlingen.