Gerhard Lotze

[Shane A Beaver]

Can anyone supply me with details of the career of Knight's Cross winner, Gerhard Lotze, please: I have the following:

Born: 21/5/22
B'place: Biberach
SS No: ? (required, if possible)
DKiG: 24/4/43 (but with which unit was he serving and in what capacity)
pre-Oct 44: Inspektionschef, SS-JS "Tölz"
KIA: 13/10/44 (as CO 5. /"Westland")
RK (posthum): 1/2/45 (as above)

Any further assistance would be greatly appreciated, please.

[Michael Miller]

Here's some basic data on Lotze.

Best,
~ Mike



Gerhard Lotze
SS-Hauptsturmführer der Waffen-SS


* 21.05.1922 in Biberach / Württemberg.
+ 13.10.1944 near Modlin, Poland (Killed in an air attack).

NSDAP-Nr.: [Party membership not indicated in SS-Personalakte]
SS-Nr.: 400 107 (Joined 30.08.1939)

Promotions:
30.08.1939 SS-Anwärter
10.05.1940 SS-Junker
01.08.1940 SS-Standartenjunker
19.02.1941 SS-Standartenoberjunker
20.04.1941 SS-Untersturmführer der Waffen-SS
09.11.1943 SS-Obersturmführer der Waffen-SS
00.00.1944 SS-Hauptsturmführer der Waffen-SS (posthumously, mit Wirkung vom 01.10.1944)

Decorations & Awards:
01.02.1945 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (posthumously) as SS-Obersturmführer and Fhr. 5.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 10 “Westland” / 5.SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking” / IV.SS-Panzer-Korps / Heeresgruppe Süd, Eastern Front (based on a recommendation dated 25.10.1944 and signed by Btl. Kdr. Walter Schmidt)
23.04.1943 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold as SS-Untersturmführer and Fhr. 8.Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 10 “Westland” / SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division “Wiking”, Eastern Front
01.06.1942 1939 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse
22.08.1941 1939 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
15.05.1943 Nahkampfspange II. Stufe (Silber)
20.04.1942 Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze
20.01.1944 Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Schwarz
08.09.1942 Medaille “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42”
00.00.19__ Deutsches Reichssportabzeichen in Bronze
00.00.19__ SA-Sportabzeichen in Bronze

[Shane A Beaver]

Thanks Mike. Thought it was 8th Kompanie for DKiG

[Marc Rikmenspoel]

Note that he wasn't actually serving with Wiking when he was KIA. He was still on the staff of the Junkerschule Bad Tölz, but between courses he visited the front, and was given the chance to direct an operation by his old unit. He was killed during the final stages, and was recommended for the RK. His position was listed as being the Fhr of 5./Westland, but he held the post only in an honorary sense, he was actually still an instructor at the Junkershule.

Fritz Hahl relates the above information is his book Panzergrenadiere der Panzer Division Wiking.