Traugott Kempas

Updated on Oct 26, 2023

Edit

Comment

Allegiance Nazi Germany Name Traugott Kempas Rank Major		Years of service 1938–45 Service/branch German Army

Born 27 August 1919 Trapponen (now Nemanskoe), district of Tilsit-Ragnit, East Prussia ( 1919-08-27 ) Commands held I. / Grenadier-Regiment 176 Battles/wars World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Siege of Leningrad Battle of Narva (1944) East Prussian Offensive Heiligenbeil Pocket † Died March 13, 1945, Wola Wilknicka, Poland Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Traugott Kempas (27 August 1919 – 13 March 1945) was a highly decorated Major in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He was also awarded the very rare Close Combat Clasp in Gold one of only 631 awards. He was killed in action on 13 March 1945 in the Heiligenbeil Pocket near Rosenwalde.

Awards and decorations

Iron Cross (1939)

2nd Class (8 July 1941)

1st Class (29 August 1941)

Wound Badge

in Black

in Silver

Infantry Assault Badge

Eastern Front Medal

Close Combat Clasp

in Bronze (1 June 1943)

in Silver (Winter 1944)

in Gold (8 March 1945)

Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (25 February 1945)

German Cross in Gold on 24 April 1944 as Hauptmann in Grenadier-Regiment 176

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Knight's Cross on 9 December 1944 as Hauptmann and commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 176

757th Oak Leaves on 28 February 1945 as Hauptmann and commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 176

References

Traugott Kempas Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA