Lothar Swierzinski
| Lothar Swierzinski | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
18 July 1922 Gelsenkirchen, Germany |
| Died |
29 October 1944 (aged 22) Warsaw, Poland |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Waffen SS |
| Years of service | 1939–44 |
| Rank | Unterscharführer |
| Unit | 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Wound Badge Eastern Front Medal 1941/42 |
Lothar Swierzinski (18 July 1922 – 29 October 1944) was an Unterscharführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.
Lothar Swierzinski was born on the 28 July 1921 at Gelsenkirchen.[1] He volunteered to join the SS and was posted to the 10th Company, 5th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment, 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf.[1][2] He was awarded the Iron Cross class 2 in November 1942 and the 1st class in November 1943.
His Knight's Cross was awarded in December 1943 when as a Rottenführer his platoon was defending the Kirovohrad - Krivoi sector in October 1943; the Soviet Union troops had managed to break through the German front line, his platoon under his command managed to hold off several Soviet attacks and reestablish the front line.[1][2]
Swierzinski died on the 29 October 1944 from wounds received the previous day during the Battle of Warsaw.[1][2]
References
- 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.
- Henschler, Henri; Fey, Willi (2003). Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS, 1943–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-2905-5.
- Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). Retreat to the Reich : the German defeat in France, 1944. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3384-7.
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