SS-Ostubaf. Karl Leiner /s.SS-PzAbt. 103

[Jan-Hendrik]

Could anyone provide biographical data about this man ?

Thanks in advance ,

Jan-Hendrik

[Marc Rikmenspoel]

Karl Leiner was Theodor Eicke's son in law. He commanded SS-Panzer Abteilung 3 when it was set up, and then, still a Stubaf., moved up to command SS-Panzer Regiment 3 when a second battalion was added. He seems to have been in over his head commanding a regiment, since after the Kharkov campaign (and with his father in law dead and no longer in command of the division), Leiner was replaced by his former battalion commander Eugen Kunstmann. And as you indicate, Leiner's subsequent postings were at the battalion commander level.

[Mark V.]

Hi Jan-Hendrik!

SS-Ostubaf. Karl Leiner

Eicke's son-in-law
SS-Heimwehr Danzig 1939
Kdr. SS-T.-Pz.Abw.Abt. 1940
Kdr. SS-Pz.Jg.Abt. "SS-Reich" 1941
Kdr. SS-Pz.Abt. 3 1942
Kdr. SS-Pz.Rgt. 3 1942-43
Kdr. s.SS-Pz.Abt. 103 1944

[Jan-Hendrik]

Very interesting ( and very fast indeed !!! ) 8)

Thank you very much !

Jan-Hendrik

EDIT : Anythin concerning possible decorations ? Did he survive the war ?

[Phil Nix]

Karl Leiner No Party nr SS Nr 327351 Born 14.6.1905 Obsbf 30.1.1943 IK 1 and 2
Phil Nix

[Jan-Hendrik]

AH , thank you very much , Mr.Nix

Jan-Hendrik

[Jan-Hendrik]

By order of 3.3.41 transfered from Pz.Jg.Abt. of the Totenkopf to Pz.Jg.Abt. of "Reich" as AbtKdr.

Interestingly the same order mentions the former Kdr. of this Abtl., SS-Sturmbannführer Hermann Frimmersdorf, as transfered to the Totenkopf, so this seems to have been a "cross exchange"

Jan-Hendrik

[Charles Steiner]

Hello Jan-Hendrik,

I recently found some other info on Leiner. Perhaps it is still of use...

Karl LEINER (SS-Nr. 327 351)

commanded SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung "Reich" from june 1941
commanded then SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 from october 1942 till january 1943
commanded very briefly SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 in march and april 1943, followed by schw. SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101 in the autumn of 1943 (as replacement) : apparently, he was not well liked and had to leave after protest from some Btl.-officers !
commanded schw. SS-Panzer-Abteilung 103 from october 1944 till january 1945
his last promotion dates from 30.01.1943 : SS-Obersturmbannführer

Cheers,

Charles Steiner

[phillip burke]

HELLO, Yes Leiner was involved in disciplanary procesidings due to protest from other officers. I will find the relevant bit of info i have in the next few days. Well done Jan i ve been interested in this officer and his carrer.

[Pena V]

This is what I have on Leiner based mainly on info from AHF:
?? ??? ???? - ?? ??? 1939 15./SS-Heimwehr "Danzig"
?? Oct 1939 - ?? Mar 1941 SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 3
?? Mar 1941 - ?? ??? ???? SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 2
01 Jun 1942 - 14 Oct 1942 SS-Panzer-Abteilung 3
14 Oct 1942 - 03 Apr 1943 SS-Panzer-Regiment 3
03 Apr 1943 - 09 Nov 1943 ???
09 Nov 1943 - 13 Feb 1944 s.SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501/101
04 Feb 1944 - 18 Jan 1945 s.SS-Panzer-Abteilung 503/103
Georg Schönberger was the CO of SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 14 Oct 1942 - 20 Nov 1943 so if Leiner commanded it during March - April 1943 Schönberger must have been in homeleave/training/ill.

Regards,

Pena V

[Mikedc]

I've his SS-number being 27.351

Can't find the source anymore where I've found this but this is what I've written down in my file about him.

And between May and August 1940 he commanded SS-Totenkopf-Panzer-Abwehr-Abteilung.

But I can't find the source anymore where I've found this but this is what I've written down in my file about him.

And in my file about the SS-Totenkopf-Division I just find the following:
SS-Totenkopf-Panzer-Abwehr-Abteilung
SS-Sturmbannführer(although I believe this must be SS-Hstuf)Karl Leiner(CO 11-39). So after his service with the
SS-Heimwehr 'Danzig' he became CO from this unit.
And when I look to what I've on SS-Totenkopf-Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung I see this:
SS-Sturmbannführer Leiner(CO 8-40). So this could be correct as well since I first wrote he commanded SS-Totenkopf-Panzer-Abwehr-Abteilung till August 1940. I only don't know if he was SS-Stubaf already at that time, only someone who has his promotions could tell us this.....

And I also doubt he served with the 15. Kp. from SS-Heimwehr 'Danzig' since the CO from that Kp. was an SS-Ostuf called Otto Leiner and Karl had a higher rank at that time when I'm correct. So he probably served with another unit from the
SS-Heimwehr 'Danzig'.


Mike

[phillip burke]

Hello, this is what i found from Tigers in Combat vol2 , summer 44,relocation to Epe, (netherlands(. SS Obersturmbannfuhrer Leiner becomes the new battalion commander.Improvised training is conducted by using three Panzer 1s MODEL C. 25 jan 45, battalion recieves 13 Tiger 2 tanks. 26 jan 45 . Entrainment of 39 Tiger 2s in Lage for transport to the eastern front.The battalion is to report directly to Heeeresgruppe Weischel [army group Vistula]. One week prior , SS-Sturmbannfuhrer Herzig relieves the unpopular SS Obersturmbannfuhrer Leiner, the son in law of deceased SS Brigadfuhrer Eicke.SS Hauptsturmfuhrer Birnschein and SS Obersturmfuhrer Ther who sent reports against Leiner to the SS Main office ,are transferred for law , order and discipline reasons to schwere Panzer Abteilung 501. Also from the book on Wittman.In Nov 43 all elements of the battalion not involved in the east front deployment were transported by rail to Sennelager South , Augustdorf .SS Obersturmbannfuhrer Leiner had assumed command of the battalion a short time before[sSS Pz Abt 101]. The 38 year old Leiner had commanded the anti tank battalion of the Totenkopf div in the western campaign of 1940, and in 43 had led the same divisions panzer regiment during the Battle of Kharkov. Leiner was married to one of Eickes daughters,and he was a long serving member of Eickes Division ,where he was sure of the commanders goodwill.Leinerdid not enjoy much popularity among members of the 101st.His cold unfriendly manner and his lack of understanding prevented any bonds from being established with the enlisted men, NCO s and officers. Thats all i have not even a photo, he sounds like your typical guy with his head up his behind. no referance for that just personal observation.

[Giorgio]

I would like to know the dates of his promotions.
Giorgio

[nick59]

Please help me to find some information (pre-war, during war and post-war) about Otto Leiner, date of birth 07/02/1899 (suposeddly Austria), Nr SS-29.746 (please distinguish from Karl Leiner, 14/06/1905 Nr SS-27351 or 32751). Different links (especially Wikipedia from different countries) give different information about commander (commanding officer) Kdr. SS.Pz.Abw. (1939) and Co schw. SS-Pz.Abt. 101 (Nov. 1943-Feb.1944) and Co. schw. SS-Pz.Abt. 103 (503) (Oct. 1944-Jan. 1945), mentioning either Otto Leiner or Karl Leiner. Probably they could be relatives or namesakes, not likely it could be one person with different names. Concerning Heimwehr Danzig (1939) all references go to SS-Obersturmführer Otto Leiner (Kdr.15. Panzerabwehr, 10. Sta. Alg.vSS).
I have a real evidence (positive information) of Otto Leiner's presence on the East front (Ukraine, Krivoy Rog - 370km to the south of Kharkov) in the period of autumn 1942 - spring 1943 before he went to Italy.
I would appreciate if you could share any information about this person.
It is possible that mentioned above Otto Leiner has another date of birth and Nr. SS.

[radevich]

This is what I have on Leiner based mainly on info from AHF:
?? ??? ???? - ?? ??? 1939 15./SS-Heimwehr "Danzig"
?? Oct 1939 - ?? Mar 1941 SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 3
?? Mar 1941 - ?? ??? ???? SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 2
01 Jun 1942 - 14 Oct 1942 SS-Panzer-Abteilung 3
14 Oct 1942 - 03 Apr 1943 SS-Panzer-Regiment 3
03 Apr 1943 - 09 Nov 1943 ???
09 Nov 1943 - 13 Feb 1944 s.SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501/101
04 Feb 1944 - 18 Jan 1945 s.SS-Panzer-Abteilung 503/103
Georg Schönberger was the CO of SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 14 Oct 1942 - 20 Nov 1943 so if Leiner commanded it during March - April 1943 Schönberger must have been in homeleave/training/ill.

SS-FHA (10.43)