Allegiance Nazi Germany Battles/wars World War II Battles and wars World War II Rank Unterscharfuhrer | Years of service 1939–44 Name Lothar Swierzinski Service/branch Waffen-SS | |
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Iron Cross 1st Class
Iron Cross 2nd Class
Wound Badge
Eastern Front Medal 1941/42 Died October 29, 1944, Warsaw, Poland Unit 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf | ||
Lothar Swierzinski (18 July 1922 – 29 October 1944) was an Unterscharfuhrer 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. He volunteered to join the SS and was posted to the 10th Company, 5th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment, 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf. 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 Rottenfuhrer 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.
Swierzinski died on the 29 October 1944 from wounds received the previous day during the Battle of Warsaw.