Herbert Kuhlmann

Herbert Kuhlmann (17 April 1915 — 9 November 1985) was an Obersturmbannfuhrer (Lieutenant Colonel) in the Waffen-SS, who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. After the war, he emigrated to Argentina where he assisted Nazis who were wanted for war crimes to hide from the authorities.

Early life
Kuhlmann was born in Harburg, Germany, on 7 April 1915.

Military career
Kuhlmann graduated SS Junkerschule at Braunschweig in 1936 with the SS Number 118 826. He was first posted to the Wiking (Germania & Westland) before joining the Das Reich in 1942. He was appointed the commander of the 8th Light Company, 2nd SS Panzer Regiment, 2nd SS Division Das Reich upon the formation of their Panzer Battalion, on the 10 February. He eventually took command of the I./Battalion, SS Panzer Regiment 1, LSSAH. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on the 13 February 1944, for his role in the breakout from the Cherkassy encirclement. while in command of this Panzer Battalion. He was eventually given command of the 12th SS Panzer Regiment, 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend

During the Ardenness offensive he was in command of his own Kampfgruppe, which consisted of the 12th SS Panzer Regiment, 560 SS Panzerjager Battalion, Panzer Grenadier Battalion, Self-propelled Artillery Battalion and an engineer company.

Later life
After the fall of the Reich, Kuhlmann made his way to South America to start a new life in Argentina. Like many within Buenos Aires' underground Nazi community, he built a fortune in business, joining the upper echelons of Buenos Aires society. The wealth and successful business-ventures of Nazis who escaped to Buenos Aires after the war was thanks in most part to the support and protection made available by the highest-ranking officials within the Argentine government. Perhaps the greatest support to Kuhlmann and his fellow Nazis came directly from the Argentine President and Nazi-sympathizer, Juan Perón, husband of the much loved, late Eva Perón.

Kuhlmann helped many other Nazis into hiding in establishing their new lives in Argentina. One of the most infamous among those he helped was Adolf Eichmann, the Third Reich's leader of the Final Solution. Kuhlmann provided Eichmann with a lease to a modest home in Buenos Aires' largely German suburb of Olivos, after Eichmann had spent years living in extreme isolation in the Argentine province of Tucumán, 700 miles north of the capital. Kuhlmann, on the other hand, managed a much more plush residence for himself, behind the walls of a palatial mansion in Palermo Chico, the embassy row of Buenos Aires.

Awards

 * Iron Cross II: 20 September 1939
 * Iron Cross I: 14 March 1941
 * Infantry Assault Badge: 20 February 1942
 * Eastern Front Medal: 20 October 1942
 * Knight's Cross: 13 February 1944
 * German Cross in Gold: 8 November 1944
 * Wound Badge in Gold: 30 January 1944

Promotions

 * Commissioned: 20 April 1936
 * SS-Obersturmführer: 30 January 1939
 * SS-Hauptsturmführer: 20 April 1941
 * SS-Sturmbannführer: 21 June 1943
 * SS-Obersturmbannführer: 30 January 1945

Commands

 * 2nd Company Nordland
 * 8th Company, 2nd SS Panzer Regiment. Das Reich
 * I./1st SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment. LSSAH
 * I./2nd SS Panzer Regiment Das Reich
 * I./1st SS Panzer Battalion LSSAH
 * 12th SS Panzer Regiment Hitlerjugend
 * 1st SS Panzer Regiment LSSAH