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Rudolf von Ribbentrop
Rudolf von Ribbentrop
Rudolf von Ribbentrop wearing a uniform of a Hauptsturmführer
Born (1921-05-11)May 11, 1921
Died May 20, 2019(2019-05-20) (aged 98)
Place of birth Wiesbaden, Weimar Republic
Allegiance Flag of German Reich (1935–1945) Nazi Germany
Service/branch Waffen SS
Years of service 1939 – 1945
Rank Hauptsturmführer
Unit SS Panzer Regiment 1
 • 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
 • 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend
Commands held 1. Kompanie, Battalion "Nord"
 • 6. Kompanie, II./SS-PzRgt 1
 • 7. Kompanie, II./SS-PzRgt 1
 • 3. Kompanie, I./SS-PzRgt 12
I./SS-PzRgt 12
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
German Cross in Gold
Relations Joachim von Ribbentrop (father)

Rudolf von Ribbentrop (11 May 1921 – 20 May 2019) was a former German Waffen-SS Captain who served in World War II. He was the son of the German diplomat and Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop. Ribbentrop distinguished himself in the Continuation War.

Early life[]

Rudolf von Ribbentrop spent a year at Westminster School, London while his father was Ambassador to Britain.

Peter Ustinov, in his publications, claimed that he studied with Rudolf von Ribbentrop in the same class at Westminster School. However, Rudolf von Ribbentrop denied this and other fictional “general” memoirs of Ustinov.

In the post-war period Rudolf von Ribbentrop was a successful entrepreneur and book author.  He performed surprisingly publicly in Moscow on October 24, 2015 when he presented his work from 2008, orginal title is Joachim von Ribbentrop: Mein Vater: Erlebnisse und Erinnerungen. 

Military career[]

Beginning[]

On 1 September 1939, when World War II started, von Ribbentrop joined as a recruit in the replacement battalion of the SS-Infantry Regiment Deutschland in Munich.[1] A month later, in October 1939, von Ribbentrop was transferred to the field regiment, which was located in the occupied portion of Czechoslovakia. In this regiment, he was enlisted to the 11. Kompanie.[2] He served in this Kompanie during the Western Campaign, winning the Iron Cross second class, and was promoted to Sturmmann. He was also wounded for the first time.

After the Western Campaign, Ribbentrop was sent to the SS-Junkerschule in Braunschweig in order to gain training as platoon leader. He was commissioned on 20 April 1941 as a Untersturmführer. He was given command of a platoon in 1. Kompanie in Reconnaissance Battalion "Nord".[3] Upon the invasion of Russia, SS-Kampfgruppe Nord was sent to Finland where Ribbentrop was to distinguish himself and was awarded the Finnish Freedom Cross, fourth class. On 2 September 1941, Ribbentrop was wounded again in his left forearm. He was sent to the SS hospital in Hohenlychen, where he stayed until February 1942. After a home leave, he was reassigned to the newly formed Panzerregiment of the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH).

Russian Front[]

He was transferred to 3. Kompanie's 1st Platoon as a platoon leader. Ribbentrop arrived through Pommerania and Eastern Prussia in Kharkov in February 1943. Soon, the SS-Panzer Corps - commanded by Paul Hausser, was threatened to be surrounded by the Soviets. Hausser commanded an attack towards the south in order to break the encirclement. SS-Lieutenant Colonel Kurt Meyer led his regiment towards the Alexeyevska (or Alexeyewka[4]). During that time, Ribbentrop was an armoured vehicle commander.[4] The German 7th Company attacked the enemy's armoured spearhead in a marshy area. The 6th company went to protect its sister company and secure its withdrawal. They destroyed several Soviet light tanks and anti-tank guns. During the battle, Ribbentrop heard the voice of the company's radio operator, Lieutenant Alt, who informed him that the company's commander tank had been knocked down. Not long after, Ribbentrop's Panzer IV received a minor hit which destroyed its antenna and disabled future communication. Light Soviet forces were driven back by evening.[5] Hausser's rescue plan was launched in morning, two days after, while Ribbentrop was with his company in Merefa. There he met Hausser for the very first time, who told them "Good luck!"[5] Meyer received an order to hit the Soviet encircling ring at its weakest point in Nowaja Vololaga. His goal was to establish a connection with Fritz Witt's battle group. Second Platoon of the 6th Company, led by SS-Lieutenant Erckardt had a task to lead the company. Soon, Erckardt entered into a firefight in a village, and he was soon killed. Ribbentrop received an order to replace him. After he took command of the 2nd Platoon, Ribbentrop ordered an advance at high speed. They passed scattered Soviet troops, and, during the advance, they destroyed few light tanks and anti-tank guns without slowing their advance. Such a manouevre placed Meyer 40 kilometers behind the Soviet spearhead. Meyer stayed behind Ribbentrop's tanks in his car and didn't let other tanks halt. Tanks freely raced through Kharkov facing minor opposition from the Soviets on their left and right flanks. Just before the dark, they reached Yefremowka, a village near Alexeyevska, which was their goal for the day.[6] Alexeyevska was captured on 13 February.[7] In order to liberate Alexeyevska, the Soviets launched a fierce attack. However, the Germans succeeded defending the town with heavy losses. During the action, a Soviet sniper wounded Ribbentrop through the lung. Ribbentrop refused to be pulled back to a hospital, but instead he went to rescue wounded soldiers.[7] Ribbentrop was awarded the Iron Cross first class for his personal bravery in these battles. After serving briefly with the Regimental Staff as an Operations Officer, he was then assigned to the 6. Kompanie, II./SS-PzRgt 1, in command of the first Platoon where he went into action during the retreat from Kharkov. Ribbentrop was wounded for the third time during these battles; shot in the right shoulder blade and left shoulder. On 1 March 1943, Ribbentrop succeeded SS Lieutenant Alt as commander of the 7. Kompanie,[8] and he was the Kompaniechef during the recapture of Kharkov. After Kharkov was captured, Ribbentrop was placed as a Regimental Adjutant. One month later he was given the responsibility of training Luftwaffe members that were sent to the LSSAH. On 15 June he returned to field command, and was appointed commander of 6. Kompanie. One month later, on 20 July he was awarded the Knight's Cross.[1]

Western Front[]

On 1 August he was transferred to the newly formed 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend, and was charged with commanding two Junior officer training courses. Four months later he was appointed commander of the 3. Kompanie, I./SS-PzRgt 12. On 3 June 1944, heading back to Le Neubourg following a training excersize, his car was attacked by a Spitfire, and von Ribbentrop was wounded for the fourth time. By 9 June, he was back in command of his Kompanie. During the defensive battles in Normandy, Ribbentrop was awarded the German Cross in Gold, and the Panzer Assault Badge. Following the breakout from Falaise, von Ribbentrop was made the Regimental Adjutant to SS-Panzerregiment 12. It was in this capacity that he saw action during Operation Wacht Am Rhein. On 20 December he was wounded for the fifth time with a shell fragment in his mouth. He was awarded the Wound Badge in Gold, and was given command of I./SS-PzRgt 12. He commanded this Abteilung until the Division surrendered to the Americans on 8 May 1945.

Awards[]

Commissioned Ranks[]

Wounds[]

  • Wounded: Fragment in upper right arm 30 May 1941
  • Wounded: Bullet wound in left forearm 2 September 1941
  • Wounded: Shot in back 5 February 1943
  • Wounded: Wounded in back by strafing enemy fighter 3 June 1944
  • Wounded: Shell fragment in mouth 20 December 1944

Surrender[]

  • Taken prisoner by Americans 8 May 1945

See also[]

References[]

Citations
  1. 1.0 1.1 Kurowski 2004, p. 184.
  2. Kurowski 2004, p. 185.
  3. Kurowski 2004, p. 196.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Kurowski 2004, p. 143.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Kurowski 2004, p. 144.
  6. Kurowski 2004, p. 145.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Ailsby 1998, p. 58.
  8. Kurowski 2004, p. 152.
Bibliography
  • Ailsby, Christopher (1998). SS: Hell on the Eastern Front: The Waffen-SS War in Russia, 1941-1945. Zenith Imprint. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5. .
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) (in German). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5. .
  • Kurowski, Franz (2004). Panzer Aces: German Tank Commanders in World War II. Stackpole Books. ISBN 9780811731737. 
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001) (in German). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II. Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.