ϟϟ-Obersturmführer der Waffen-SS Leidreiter

SS-Obersturmführer Hans-Martin Leidreiter

SS-Sturmbannführer Gustav Knittel

SS-Obersturmführer Hans-Martin Leidreiter served with 1.SS-Division Leibstandarte SS, a veteran since 1938. He showed great bravery in the eastern front and distinguished himself at Korobotschkino in front of Bereka. Leidreiter was acting as temporary company commander in SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs Abteilung 1 after the then SS-Haupsturmführer Gustav Knittel had been wounded during a counterattack against the Soviets in Kharkov. After the recapture of Kharkov, the Leibstandarte SS was rebuild in preparation of the upcoming Operation Citadel or the Battle of Kursk, but both Leidreiter and Knittel were wounded on June 11 1943. Leidreiter continued to serve under Knittel as company commander and adjutant when the Leibstandarte SS was transferred to Normandy as part of the failed attempt to counter the Allied invasion and during the Ardennes Offensive. When the division surrendered to the Americans in Austria in May 1945, Leidreiter decided to evade capture. He made it to the west on foot, accompanied by his driver August Rauber. After the war he became an assistant teacher and rose to the position of deputy leader of the Agricultural- and Silviculture School in Titisee-Neustadt. The German Cross in Gold and Close Combat Clasp in Silver holder Hans-Martin Leidreiter died aged 86 on April 6 2007. Credit: Timo R. Worst. Left image: formal studio portrait of Leidreiter, probably made when he made SS-Obersturmführer on November 4 1943. Commons: Bundesarchiv. Right image: photo shows Leidreiter's commanding officer Gustav Knittel after his promotion to SS-Sturmbannführer on April 24 1943. Knittel passed away aged 61 on June 30 1976 in Ulm in Baden-Württemberg. Photo by war correspondent SS-Kriegsberichter Max Büschel. Credit: Karl Mensburg. U.S. NARA.