Allegiance Nazi Germany Battles/wars World War II Battles and wars World War II Rank Sturmbannfuhrer | Years of service 1938–45 Name Leo-Hermann Reinhold Service/branch Waffen-SS | |
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Iron Cross I Class
Iron Cross II Class
German Cross in Gold
Wound Badge
Panzer Badge in Silver
Eastern Front Medal 1941/42 Died October 26, 1961, Lubeck, Germany Unit 4th SS Polizei Panzergrenadier Division, 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg | ||
Leo-Hermann Reinhold (22 February 1906 — 26 October 1961) was a Sturmbannfuhrer (Major) in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was a recipient of 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
Leo-Hermann Reinhold was born on the 22 February 1906, in Konigsberg East Prussia. His father Martin was a painter, after he finished elementary school he studied to be an office clerk until April 1928, when he joined the Landespolizei (State Police). Between May 1932 and June 1935 Reinhold was a platoon commander in the Landspolizei. Reinhold then completed his compulsory army service between June 1935 and March 1939. At the completion of his army service Reinhold returned to the Landespolizei in May 1939 and become the Adjutant to the Commander of Schupo in Frankfurt. He joined the NSDAP (party number 7052575) in April and was promoted to Oberleutnant (Senior Lieutenant) of Police in June 1939.
World War II
Reinhold joined the Polizei Division in October 1939 and was given command of the 2nd company and made the Battalion second-in-command of the SS Polizei Panzerjager (tank hunter) Battalion. Joining the SS in January 1940 (SS number 422 117), he remained with the Panzerjager Battalion until February 1943, being awarded the Iron Cross II class during the Battle of France in June 1940. Reinhold was married to his wife Gerda in July 1940 and stationed in France until moving east to take part in Operation Barbarossa the invasion of the Soviet Union.
Reinhold received his first wound in September 1941 and was awarded the Iron Cross I Class. Shortly after being promoted to Hauptsturmfuhrer (Captain) in October 1941, he remained commander of the 2nd Company until being wounded again in February 1943. After recovering from his wounds he was posted to the newly formed 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg to take over command of the II. Battalion, 10th SS Panzer Regiment. In June 1943 he assumed command of the 10th SS Panzerjager Battalion and was promoted to Sturmbannfuhrer (Major) in November 1943, and received the Wound Badge in Silver for his fifth wound in April 1944.
Reinhold was awarded the Knights Cross during Operation Market Garden, in which he successfully repulsed a number of attacks from the allies at Nijmegen. This delayed the allies from relieving the British at the Arnhem Bridge and provided sufficient time for the Germans to place a defensive line before the British which held them in Oosterbeek.
In November 1944 he was posted to the SS Panzer Training and Reserve Regiment until February 1945 when he was given command of the Panzer Gunnery school until March 1945.
Post war
Reinhold survived the war and died on the 26 October 1961 in Lubeck.