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Gottstein, Rainer Dr. (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:
August 10th, 1910 (Reichenberg/Bohemia, Czechoslovakia)
Date of death:
February 13th, 1945 (Tök/Pest, Hungary)
Buried on:
German-Hungarian War Cemetery Budaörs
Grave: UNK.
Service number:
SS-Nr.: 219.699 // NSDAP-Nr.: 5.062.634
Nationality:
Austrian

Biography

SS-Obersturmbannführer Rainer Hans Wahrmund Gottstein
Promotions:
20.04.1937: SS-Untersturmführer
20.04.1938: SS-Obersturmführer
30.01.1939: SS-Hauptsturmführer
01.10.1940: SS-Sturmbannführer / Regierungsrat
30.01.1945: SS-Obersturmbannführer und Oberstleutnant der Polizei / Oberregierungsrat

Career:
01.11.1933: entered the SS
24.06.1937: entered the NSDAP
00.00.1941: SS-Stubaf, Polizeirat, Leiter des Referates II D 1,„Funk-, Foto- und Filmwesen", Amt II, Organisation und Verwaltung, Reichssicherheitshauptamt, Berlin
00.00.1944: SS-Stubaf, Leiter, Einsatzkommando, Kosice and Miskolc
00.08.1944: SS-Stubaf, Kommandeur, Sicherheitspolizei und SD, Budapest
13.02.1945: most probably KIA near Tök, 20km North West of Budapest

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Nr. 83.754
SS-Zivilabzeichen
Awarded on:
1935
Julleuchter der SS
Bronzes SA-Sportabzeichen
DRL Sportabzeichen in Bronze
Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS
Awarded on:
January 30th, 1938
SS-Dienstauszeichnung 4.Stufe (4 Jahre)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1941
SS-Dienstauszeichnung 3.Stufe (8 Jahre)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)
Awarded on:
1944
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)
Awarded on:
1944
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Sicherheitspolizei und Sicherheitsdienst, Budapest
Awarded on:
January 22nd, 1945
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Sicherheitspolizei und Sicherheitsdienst, Budapest
Awarded on:
February 6th, 1945
Gottstein’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“SS-Obersturmbannführer Gottstein has already distinguished himself through his exceptional services during the coup in Hungary. For this he was decorated with the Iron Cross First & Second Class.

As commander of the Sicherheitspolizei and the SD in Budapest during the weeks-long combat in the fortress, he has again distinguished himself repeatedly through his readiness for action and boldness. Through the exemplary leadership of his subordinated forces he has made possible the detention and pacification of numerous saboteurs and deserters, as well as the elimination of emergent traitors from the ranks of the Hungarians. Through the skillful employment of his own agents he has also obtained valuable information for the higher commands. Numerous enemy communication links were destroyed as a result of his initiative.

Through his personal actions and fearless demeanour in the encircled city of Budapest, SS-Obersturmbannführer Gottstein has delivered outstanding service which has helped to preserve the military clout of the Wehrmacht formations deployed here. Consequently he has also facilitated the continued defense of the city itself.

He is worthy of the proposed award.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1945
SS-Dienstauszeichnung 2.Stufe (12 Jahre)

Sources

Photo