Wilhelm Trabandt

August Wilhelm Trabandt (1891–1968) was a Brigadeführer (Brigadier General) in the Waffen SS during World War II. He 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. He also served in World War I and because of this service held the Iron Cross I & II class in both the 1914 and 1939 versions.

Early life
August Wilhelm Trabandt was born in Berlin, Germany on the 21 July 1891. He served in World War I and was awarded the Iron Cross I & II class and the Wound Badge.

Between wars
In May 1936, Trabandt volunteered to join the SS-VT (SS service number 218.852).

World War II
At the start of World War II, Trabandt was the commander of the III. Battalion, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler Regiment. He took part in the Polish Campaign and was awarded the Iron Cross II class in September 1939.

He was also involved in the Battle of France. He has been given the credit for designing the Leibstandarte insignia in 1940, after the campaign in France had ended. The insignia was a picklock that opens all doors, (a reference to the performance of the LSSAH in the battle of France) and it was also the name of the regiment's commander Sepp Dietrich: dietrich means picklock in German.

Trabandt was disgraced at the end of the Battle of France. When trying to cross the border back into Germany, he was stopped at the customs post who discovered a large quantity of French wine bottles. Facing accusations of smuggling, he was posted to the 1 SS Infantry Brigade.

The 1 SS Infantry Brigade was used on anti partisan duties and also took part in the extermination of the Jewish population of the occupied territories in the Soviet Union.

He was given command of the SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 39 in March 1943, and took over command of the Brigade in September 1943. As the brigade commander he was awarded the Iron Cross I class in September and the German Cross in Gold in October.

He was awarded the Knight's Cross on the 6 January 1944, just before the Brigade was disbanded and used to form the cadre of the 18th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Horst Wessel. Trabandt was given command of the Division and remained in command until April 1945.

Post war
Trabandt survived the war and became a captive in the Soviet Union for the next nine years and released in 1954. He died on 19 May 1968, in Hamburg, Germany.