Otto Kron
| Otto Kron | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
28 February 1911 Speyer, Germany |
| Died |
August 9, 1955 (aged 44) Dachau, Germany |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Waffen SS |
| Years of service | 1939–45 |
| Rank | Obersturmbannführer |
| Unit | SS Division Totenkopf |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
| Other work | Dachau concentration camp guard 1937-1938 |
Otto Wilhelm Kron (28 February 1911 – 9 August 1955) was an Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel) in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. This was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.
Born in 1911, Kron studied Law at the University of Würzburg and was one of the early members of the Allgemeine-SS joining on the 1 October 1931 (SS number 31.441), he later joined the NSDAP on the 1 May 1933 (Party number 3.061.726). In 1935 he was promoted to officer and assigned to the SS-Totenkopfverbände (concentration camps guards) in Oberbayern at Dachau concentration camp in 1937 and 1938. On the 13 March 1938 he was involved in the Anschluss of Austria and in October 1938 the occupation of the Sudetenland.
After the Polish Campaign Otto Kron was one of the cadre member of the SS Totenkopf Division when it was formed in October 1939, being given command of the 4th Company, Totenkopf, he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class in June 1940 for the Battle of France. Kron was also involved in the invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa) being awarded the Iron Cross 1st class in December 1941 and the Eastern Front Medal awarded to all who suffered through the first Russian winter of the war in 1941/42 and awarded the Knight's Cross in August 1942, while in command of the 3rd SS Flak Battalion.[1]
In April 1943 he took over command of the 3rd SS Reconnaissance Battalion, SS Totenkopf .[1] During the Battle of Kharkov, Kron was severely wounded and served the rest of the war in Germany with a shortened stiff leg.
Kron died at Dachau on the 9 August 1955.[1]
References
Further reading
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). Retreat to the Reich : the German defeat in France, 1944. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3384-7.