Leo-Hermann Reinhold

Leo-Hermann Reinhold
Born	22 February 1906 Königsberg, East Prussia
Died	26 October 1961 (aged 55) Lübeck, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen-SS
Years of service	1938–45
Rank	Sturmbannführer
Unit	4th SS Polizei Division 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross I Class Iron Cross II Class German Cross in Gold Wound Badge Panzer Badge in Silver Eastern Front Medal 1941/42

Leo-Hermann Reinhold (22 February 1906 – 26 October 1961) was a Sturmbannführer (Major) in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Early life

Leo-Hermann Reinhold was born on the 22 February 1906, in Königsberg East Prussia. In April 1928, he joined the Landespolizei (State Police); between May 1932 and June 1935 he was a platoon commander. Reinhold then completed his compulsory army service between June 1935 and March 1939. He returned to the Landespolizei in May 1939 and became the Adjutant to the Commander of Schupo in Frankfurt. He joined the NSDAP (party number 7052575) in April and was promoted to Oberleutnant (Senior Lieutenant) of Police in June 1939.

World War II

Reinhold joined the Polizei Division in October 1939 and was given command of the 2nd company and made the Battalion second-in-command of the SS Polizei Panzerjäger (tank destroyer) Battalion. Joining the SS in January 1940 (SS number 422 117), he remained with the Panzerjäger Battalion until February 1943, being awarded the Iron Cross II class during the Battle of France in June 1940. Reinhold was married to his wife Gerda in July 1940 and stationed in France until moving east to take part in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union.

In September 1941 Reinhold was awarded the Iron Cross I Class. Shortly after being promoted to Hauptsturmführer (Captain) in October 1941, he remained commander of the 2nd Company until being wounded again in February 1943. After recovering from his wounds he was posted to the newly formed 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg to take over command of the 2nd Battalion, 10th SS Panzer Regiment. In June 1943 he assumed command of the 10th SS Panzerjäger Battalion and was promoted to Sturmbannführer (Major) in November 1943, and received the Wound Badge in Silver for his fifth wound in April 1944.

Reinhold was awarded the Knights Cross for his actions during Operation Market Garden. In November 1944 he was posted to the SS Panzer Training and Reserve Regiment until February 1945 when he was given command of the Panzer Gunnery school until March 1945.

Post war

Reinhold died on the 26 October 1961 in Lübeck.

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.
• Fey, Will; Henschler, Henri (2003). Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-2905-5.
• Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). The German Defeat in the East, 1944–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3371-7.
• The Combat History of the 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg. available on line