ϟϟ-Sturmbannführer der Waffen-SS Tychsen

SS-Sturmbannführer Christian Tychsen

Commanders of SS-Pz.Reg.2 Das Reich at Kursk

Christian Tychsen joined the SS in December 1931. He was one of the most highly thought of combat commanders of Das Reich and was legendary for his fearlessness in combat. The Das Reich division had a most fearsome combat reputation, seeing action in nearly all the major engagements of World War II. It performed extremely well under some of the most capable and energetic commanders of the Waffen-SS. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Das Reich's panzers played a key role in the Kharkov campaign in early 1943. The division knocked out a total of 292 Soviet tanks and SU's in the Kharkov-Belgorod campaign, and lost 77 tanks and assault guns. SS-Sturmbannführer Christian Tychsen's command tank was a Panzer II numbered B11. He was an inspirational leader preferring to command his units from the front line in the thick of the action adapting powerful and fierce tactics with great speed. Tychsen was awarded the Knight's Cross on March 31 1943 for his brilliant leadership of Das Reich's II.Battalion during the severe fighting of Kharkov. He became the commander of SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 Das Reich in November 1943. Most of the Flemish volunteers in the Das Reich division were concentrated in this regiment. After being severly wounded more than nine times, Tychsen was killed on July 28 1944 while commanding 2.SS-Panzer-Division Das Reich in Normandy. He died of his wounds in American captivity and was stripped of all his decorations and all other types of identification for souvenirs - as a result the Oakleaves holder SS-Obersturmbannführer Christian Tychsen was buried as an unknown soldier but was identified in the 1970's and rebuired with full honors. Top image: the 32-year-old Christian Tychsen in April 1943 after the Third Battle of Kharkov. Also in the picture is SS-Ostuf. Hans Pavelka, KIA on July 16 1943, and SS-Ustuf. Karl-Heinz Worthmann, KIA on July 6 1943 near Belgorod. Credit: Bekors. Bottom image: battalion commander SS-Stubaf. Christian Tychsen, the successful tank commander regimental adjutant SS-Hstuf. Karl-Heinz Lorenz, KIA on July 7 1943, near the Belgorod-Kursk railway when Tiger S24 was destroyed, and regimental commander SS-Ostubaf. Hans-Albin von Reitzenstein during Citadel in July 1943. Credit: Johannes Dorn. c. Bundesarchiv.