Franz Josef Krombholz

Franz-Josef Krombholz
Born	13 August 1920 Horní Police, Oberpolitz, Czechoslovakia
Died	13 December 2000 (aged 80) Schenna, Meran, Italy
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen-SS
Years of service	1939–45
Rank	SS-Hauptsturmführer d. R. der Waffen-SS
Unit	SS-VT 7th SS Gebirgs Division Prinz Eugen
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross German Cross in Gold Close Combat Clasp in Silver Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class

Franz-Josef Krombholz (13 August 1920 — 13 December 2000) was a Hauptsturmführer (Captain) in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Franz Josef Krombholz was born on the 13 August 1920, in Horní Police in Czechoslovakia. He volunteered to join the SS-VT and served in the 7th SS Gebirgs Division Prinz Eugen

He was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class in July 1941 followed by the Iron Cross 1st class in November 1941. He then took over command of the II.Battalion, 14th SS Gebirgs Regiment, 7th SS Gebirgs Division Prinz Eugen in November 1943. It was while in command of the III.Battalion that he was awarded the German Cross in Gold in April 1944. He was transferred to command the III.Battalion, 14th SS Gebirgs Regiment in October 1944 and was awarded the Knight's Cross in March 1945, while fighting on the Balkan front.

Franz Josef Krombholz survived the war and died on the 13 December 2000.

Summary of his SS career

Dates of rank

• HJ-Gefolgschaftsführer - 1938
• SS-Sturmmann
• SS-Unterscharführer der Waffen-SS - September 1, 1941
• SS-Untersturmführer d. R. der Waffen-SS - December 21, 1942
• SS-Obersturmführer d. R. der Waffen-SS - November 9, 1943
• SS-Hauptsturmführer d. R. der Waffen-SS - November 9, 1944

Notable decorations

• Infantry Assault Badge in Silver (1942)
• Wound Badge in Black (1939)
• Wound Badge in Silver (1939)
• German Cross in Gold on 24 April 1944 as SS-Obersturmführer in the 7./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 14^[1]
• Iron Cross 2nd Class (1939)
• Iron Cross 1st Class (1939)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 28 March 1945 as SS-Hauptsturmführer and commander of the III./SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 14 "Prinz Eugen"^{[2][Note 1]}
• Close Combat Clasp in Bronze (1944)
• Close Combat Clasp in Silver (1944)
• Anschluss Medal (1940)
• Croatian Order of the Iron Trefoil, 4th. Class (1943)

Notes

1. According to Scherzer as SS-Hauptsturmführer of the Reserves and commander of the III./SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 14.^[3]

References

Citations

1. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 256.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 275.
3. Scherzer 2007, p. 477.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). Retreat to the Reich : the German defeat in France, 1944. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3384-7.
• Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). The German Defeat in the East, 1944–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3371-7.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.