ϟϟ-Hauptsturmführer der Waffen-SS von Ribbentrop

Rudolf von Ribbentrop as SS-Obersturmführer

Original SS-Division Hitlerjugend Cuff Title

At the start of World War II Rudolf von Ribbentrop, son of the German diplomat and Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop, enlisted as a recruit in SS-Standarte Deutschland. After the invasion of Poland and the Western Campaign von Ribbentrop was sent to SS-Junkerschule in Braunschweig. He was commissioned on April 20 1941 as a SS-Untersturmführer and given command of a platoon in SS Nord Reconnaissance Battalion. Upon the invasion of Soviet Union, SS-Kampfgruppe Nord was sent to Finland where von Ribbentrop was to distinguish himself and was awarded the Finnish Order of the Cross of Liberty. After being wounded he was reassigned to the newly formed Panzerregiment of the Leibstandarte SS. During the retreat from Kharkov in Feb. 1943 von Ribbentrop was shot in the right shoulder blade and left shoulder. During the action, Soviet sniper wounded Ribbentrop through lung. He refused to be pulled back to a hospital, but instead went to rescue wounded soldiers. von Ribbetrop was awarded the Iron Cross First Class for his personal bravery in these battles. He then took command of 7.Kompanie (II./SS-PzRgt 1) during the recapture of Kharkov in March 1943. One month later he was awarded the Knight's Cross. von Ribbentrop was later transferred to the newly formed 12.SS-Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend and appointed commander of 3.Kompanie (I./SS-PzRgt 12). On June 3 1944 on the way to Le Neubourg, his car was attacked by a Spitfire, and von Ribbentrop was wounded for the fourth time. By June 9 1943, he was back in command of his company. During the defensive battles in Normandy, von Ribbentrop was awarded the German Cross in Gold and the Panzer Assault Badge. Following the breakout from the Falaise Gap, von Ribbentrop was made Regimental Adjutant to SS-Panzer-Regiment 12. It was in this capacity that he saw action during Op. Wacht Am Rhein. On Dec. 20 1944 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 SS-Panzer-Regiment 12, which he commanded until the Hitlerjugend surrendered to the Americans on May 8 1945. Rudolf von Ribbentrop is born on May 10 1921 in Wiesbaden and is still alive in 2011. Top image: Credit: Julia Kotterias. Private Collection. Fair use.