Ludwig Spindler

Ludwig Spindler
Born 15 November 1910
Munich, German Empire
Died 27 December 1944(1944-12-27) (aged 34)
Ardennes, Belgium
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Waffen-SS
Years of service 1928–44
Rank Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel)
Unit SS Division Das Reich; SS Division Hohenstaufen
Commands held Kampfgruppe Spindler
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Ludwig Spindler (15 November 1910 – 27 December 1944) was a German Waffen-SS officer who served in the SS Division Das Reich and the SS Division Hohenstaufen. He also commanded the Kampfgruppe Spindler during the Operation Market Garden and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Early life - pre-war SS service

Ludwig Spindler was born in München on 15 November 1910. He was a son of sculptor Thomas Müller and Therese Spindler. After completing school, Ludwig worked shortly as a dispatcher for SA Maffei A.G., before he became a member of the Landespolizei-Bayern (Bavarian uniformed police). Spindler remained a police officer until 30 November 1934, when he joined the SS-Verfügungstruppe and was assigned to the VT-SS Standarte Deutschland.

World War II service

With the 13. Kompanie of the VT SS Standarte Deutschland, Spindler participated in the invasion of Poland and the subsequent operations in the West; receiving the Iron Cross 2nd Class in October 1939. He remained with 2. SS-Division ‘’Das Reich’’ during Operation Barbarossa, commanding various units before being transferred to the 9.SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen on 1 March 1943. Initially, he was put in charge of the II. Battalion within SS-Panzer Artillerie Regiment 9, leading it during the operations around Tarnopol in April 1944. The division, a component of Hausser's II. SS-Panzerkorps, played an important role in the rescue of encircled German troops from the Kamenets-Podolsky pocket. For his exemplary leadership during these operations SS-Sturmbannführer Spindler was recommended for the German Cross in Gold and received the command of the entire SS-Panzer Artillerie Regiment 9. After the Allied invasion of France, the II. SS-Panzerkorps, including the 9.SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen, was sent west to defend Caen in Normandy.

In September, the 9.SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen was ordered for repairs in the Netherlands and reached Arnhem on 9 September 1944. 17 September 1944 was bitter-sweet for Spindler; he was finally decorated with the German Cross in Gold for his heroic actions during the operations in Russia and above all in Normandy. However, it was on this day the Allies also launched Operation Market Garden. As the men of the British 1st Airborne Division were deployed in the vicinity of the village Oosterbeek, Spindler was tasked with preventing them from entering Arnhem. The Kampfgruppe (Battle Group) Spindler formed a defensive perimeter around the city, which was not breached by the British forces throughout the battle. Later on, the force under Spidler's command also launched an offensive, forcing the British to withdraw on 26 September 1944, an achievement for which Ludwig Spindler received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Spindler remained with the Hohenstaufen and took part in the Battle of the Bulge. On 27 December 1944 Spindler was killed by Allied aircraft, which attacked his car, killing him instantly. He was buried at the Altenkirchen War Cemetery in Westerwald.

Summary of SS career

Dates of rank
Notable decorations

References

Citations

Bibliography

  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. 
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. 
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