Nickname(s) Fritz Years of service 1932–44 Service/branch Waffen-SS | Allegiance Nazi Germany Name Hans Collani Rank Standartenfuhrer | |
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Born February 13, 1908
Stettin, Germany now Poland ( 1908-02-13 ) Battles/wars World War II
Polish Campaign
Battle of France
Operation Marita
Operation Barbarossa
Eastern Front
Battle of Tannenberg Line Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Iron Cross I Class
Iron Cross II Class
German Cross in Gold
Infantry Assault Badge
Wound Badge Died July 29, 1944, Narva, Estonia Battles and wars Invasion of Poland, Battle of France Unit 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler | ||
Hans Collani (13 February 1908 – 29 July 1944) was a Standartenfuhrer (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.
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Early life
Hans Collani was born on the 13 February 1908, in Stettin. His father was a career officer in the Infantry and held the rank of Oberst (Colonel or Group Captain). (His brother who was killed in action over France in World War II would achieve the same rank in the Luftwaffe)
After leaving school in 1931, he worked in a merchant shipping office and travelled to Leningrad and Murmansk. He joined the NSDAP in 1932 and later joined the Sturmabteilung (SA) and then the Waffen SS.
Assigned to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler Regiment he served in the 1st Company from March 1933 and was promoted to Hauptsturmfuhrer (Captain) in October 1933. He served as the Adjutant to the LSSAH commander Sepp Dietrich from February 1935 to November 1939.
World War II
He served in the Polish Campaign where he was awarded the Iron Cross II class in September 1939, and the Battle of France. He also took part in the Invasions of the Balkans (Operation Marita) and the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa) where he was awarded the Eastern Front Medal.
He was promoted to Sturmbannfuhrer (Major) in March 1942 and awarded the Iron Cross I class in October. In February 1943, he was transferred to command the III (Finnish) Battalion/ SS Panzergrenadier Regiment Norland, 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking until July 1943 when the Finns returned home to Finland at the end of their contract. In the meantime he had in April 1943, been promoted to Obersturmbannfuhrer (Lieutenant Colonel).
In May 1943, he was transferred to command the SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 49 De Ruyter which was in the 23rd SS Panzergrenadier Division Nederland.
Hans Collani committed suicide when his command post was about to be overrun by the Red Army Leningrad Front on the Eastern Front in the Battle of Tannenberg Line on 29 July 1944.
He was awarded a posthumous Knight's Cross and promotion to Standartenfuhrer (Colonel) for his bravery and leadership in the Narva battles in August 1944.