The Reich veteran the then SS-Sturmbannführer Johannes Rudolf Mühlenkamp was assigned to the first foreign division in the Waffen-SS in June 1942, the SS-Division Wiking. Its members hoped to eventually see all the Germanic nations united into one body. Tens of thousands of Europeans would follow these initial volunteers. Here Mühlenkamp was given command of the very first tank battalion of the Waffen-SS, the SS-Panzer-Abteilung 5 Wiking. Panzer commander Mühlenkamp's up-front leadership style was much appreciated by the European volunteers under his command. After active field service in Ukraine and the Caucasus, he received the command of the then newly formed SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 of the Wiking on March 5 1944 and shortly after, on Aug. 6 1944, he assumed command of the entire 5.SS-Panzer-Division Wiking. The qualities of the divison as a combat unit were testified by the number of Knight's Crosses awarded to its members. A total of 54 such gallantry awards were made, a figure surpassed only by 69 for the 2.SS-Panzerdivision Das Reich. General der Infanterie Friedrich Hoßbach submitted SS-Standartenführer and division leader of the Wiking Johannes Mühlenkamp for the Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross on Sept. 21 1944. He was the 596th member of the German Armed Forces to receive this coveted award. It reflected not only his achievements but also those of his men. Mühlenkamp's last command was the 32.SS-Freiwilligen Grenadier-Division 30. Januar in 1945. Oakleaves holder Johannes Mühlenkamp died aged 76 on Sept. 23 1986 in Bredelem in Niedersachsen. Left image:
Hannes Mühlenkamp with his fox terrier in Ukraine in the spring of 1943. Photo by SS-KB Helmut Möbius. Credit: Ghermán Mihály. c. Bundesarchiv. Right image: Mühlenkamp's company commander in SS-Panzer-Abteilung 5 Hans Flügel, like him a veteran of the Reich, was appointed the Adjutant of SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 in mid 1944. He was awarded the Knight's Cross on Oct. 16 1944 as battalion commander of that regiment based on a recommendation by SS-Ostubaf Fritz Darges, endorsed by Mühlenkamp and approved by corps commander
Herbert Gille. He was also awarded the Wound Badge in Gold. Hans Flügel ended the war as a SS-Sturmbannführer d. R. der Waffen-SS and died aged 70 on March 1 1989 in Naila in Bayern. Photo taken the following year in Eastern Poland. c. Bundesarchiv.
Of the estimated 13-15 million men who served in the German Armed Forces in World War II only 882 were awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak-leaves.
ReplyDeletePaul Oosterling wrote an outstanding book about Johannes Muhlenkampf with the help of old veterans of this period. One of them was my father whose outstanding photographic memory helped the writer in stories and adventures of this famous Wiking division. Paul Oosterling gave to me, as a tribute to my father, one of the 1st original very luxury pressings and I could read all the stories my father and many other veterans have told and are now forever for everybody accesible. The book "Standartenfuhrer Johannes Muhlenkamp" gives you a very good impression what this division has lived through the years they fought in Russia, Poland and Hungary. Outstanding performance of a elite soldiers division kept forever in this book.
ReplyDeleteMuhlenkamp is wearing the German national eagle on his visor cap (instead of the standard SS eagle) :)
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