Ruediger Pipkorn

Rüdiger Pipkorn
Born 19 November 1909
Gera, Germany
Died 25 April 1945(1945-04-25) (aged 35)
Halbe, Germany killed in action
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch

Heer

Waffen SS (Temporary assignment)
Years of service 1939–45
Rank Oberst and Standartenführer
Unit 35th SS and Police Grenadier Division
Battles/wars World War II
Awards German Cross in Gold
Iron Cross I class
Iron Cross II class
Wound Badge in Black

Rüdiger Pipkorn (19 November 1909 – 25 April 1945) was an Oberst (Colonel), and a temporary Standartenführer (Colonel) in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was killed in action in 1945, while in command of the 35th SS and Police Grenadier Division.

Biography

Rüdiger Pipkorn was born on the 19 November 1909, in Gera at Thuringia. He was a member of the Heer (German Army) during World War II. In 1943 as an Oberstleutnant he accepted a wartime transfer to the Waffen SS. He was not a member of the NSDAP and as he was only temporarily transferred to the Waffen SS, he did not receive a SS service number.

He was awarded the German Cross in Gold in June 1944, for his performance when serving as the chief of staff for the II SS Panzer Corps in Normandy.

In the spring of 1945, he was given command of the 35th SS and Police Grenadier Division, which by April was in positions on the Neisse River near Guben, southeast of Berlin. The Soviet Berlin offensive had started on 16 April. He was killed in action on 25 April 1945, in his command tank by Soviet tank fire near the outskirts of Baruth/Mark, while leading his division in an attempt to break out of the Halbe pocket.

References

    Further reading


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