Allegiance Nazi Germany Battles/wars World War II Battles and wars World War II Siblings Hermann Fegelein | Years of service 1938–1945 Name Waldemar Fegelein Service/branch Waffen-SS Nieces Eva Barbara Fegelein | |
Born 9 January 1912
Ansbach, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire ( 1912-01-09 ) Rank SS-Standartenfuhrer (colonel) Unit Waffen-SS
8th SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer
37th SS Volunteer Cavalry Division Lutzow Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
German Cross in Gold
Iron Cross 1st Class
Iron Cross 2nd Class
Close Combat Clasp in Bronze
General Assault Badge in Bronze Died November 20, 2000, Berlin, Germany People also search for Hermann Fegelein, Gretl Braun, Eva Barbara Fegelein | ||
Waldemar Fegelein (9 January 1912 – 20 November 2000) was a SS-Standartenfuhrer (colonel) in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Career
Waldemar Fegelein was born on 9 January 1912, in Ansbach, the younger brother of Hermann Fegelein. His father operated a horse riding school in Munich which was forced to close due to the worldwide economic depression of the 1920s.
He volunteered to join the SS-VT/Waffen-SS and during World War II was awarded the Knight's Cross as a SS-Sturmbannfuhrer (major) in command of the 2nd SS Cavalry Regiment in December 1943, which was serving on the Eastern Front. He was personally presented with the medal by Heinrich Himmler.
Fegelein, like his brother, Hermann, went on to command an SS Division, the 37th SS Volunteer Cavalry Division Lutzow.
Waldemar Fegelein was implicated in the killing of Russian Partisans/Jews during the war and in one incident specifically he reportedly ordered his men to murder 21 Jewish men in the town of Starobin on 21-08-1941, at the end of an anti partisan sweep called "Operation Turov". His brother Hermann reported that over 13.000 Jews/Partisans had been terminated during this operation. Waldemar Fegelein was promoted to Standartenfuhrer on 12-21-1944. Among his many decorations, Fegelein received the following: Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, German Cross in Gold, Iron Cross 1st Class, Iron Cross 2nd Class, the Wound Badge, the German Sports Badge in Gold, SS Honor Ring and SS Honor Sword. Fegelein survived the war and was released from the prisoner camp in Darmstadt on 25-11-1946 and changed his name to Axel Fegelein, though he would sign autograph requests with his birth name. He led his own riding school near Bad Worishofen and never had to justify himself for his war crimes.
Waldemar Fegelein died 20-11-2000, age 88 in Obermeitingen. Fegelein is buried with his wife Anneliese, who died age 66 in 1990, on the Neuer Friedhof of Oberwinter.