Fritz Bunse
| Fritz Bunse | |
|---|---|
| Born |
4 July 1911 Hagen, Germany |
| Died | 14 September 1970 (aged 59) |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Waffen SS |
| Years of service | 1933–45 |
| Rank | Obersturmbannführer |
| Unit |
SS-VT Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler SS Division Wiking 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross I Class Iron Cross II Class Wound Badge Infantry Assault Badge Eastern Front Medal War Merit Cross with swords |
Fritz Bunse (4 July 1911 – 14 September 1970) was an Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel) 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.
Early life
Fritz Bunse was born on 4 July 1911 in Hagen in Germany. In 1931 he joined the NSDAP and he was also one of the early members of the SS-VT (SS service number 30 303) which he joined in March 1933. In 1933 Josef Dietrich who had selected 117 SS men for the SS-Stabswache Berlin. Like Bunse, eleven men from the 117 went on to win the Knights Cross.[1]
Bunse was selected to become an officer and posted to the SS-Junkerschule in Braunschweig between 1936 and 1937 and after graduation was promoted to Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) in April 1937. In May 1937 he was given command of the 1st Company, SS Pionier (Engineer) Regiment and promoted to Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant) in September 1938.
World War II
Bunse took part in the early campaigns of World War II and was awarded the Iron Cross II class during the Battle of France in July 1940. He also took part in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. He was promoted to Hauptsturmführer (Captain) in June 1941 and given command of the 16th (Pioneer) Company, 9th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment., SS Division Wiking. I n August 1941 was awarded the Iron Cross I class.
Bunse was promoted to Sturmbannführer (Major) and became the first commander of the 11th SS Pioneer Battalion, 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Norland. He was awarded the Knight's Cross while in command during the Battle of Narva.
Bunse was promoted to Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel) in June 1944, and also given command of the 49th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment De Ruyter. In October 1944 moved to the staff of the V SS Mountain Corps.
Post war
Bunse died on 14 September 1970.
References
- ↑ Johnson p.15
- Johnson, David. (1999). Twelve Years With Hitler: A History of 1. Kompanie Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler 1933-1945, Schiffer, ISBN 0-7643-0777-0
- Reynolds, Michael (1997). Steel Inferno: I SS Panzer Corps in Normandy. Spellmount. ISBN 1-873376-90-1
Further reading
- 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.
- Fey, Will; Henschler, Henri (2003). Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-2905-5.
- Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). The German Defeat in the East, 1944–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3371-7.
- Scherzer, Veit (2010). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945—Teil XI: Pioniertruppe—Band 1: A–K [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Armed Forces 1939–1945—Part XI: Pioneer Troops Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Bissendorf, Germany: Biblio Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2398-6.