Kämpfe, Helmut (SS-Pz-Gren.Reg. 4 'Der Führer')
- Date of birth:
- July 31st, 1909 (Jena/Saxe-Weimar, Germany)
- Date of death:
- June 10th, 1944 (Breuilaufa, France)
- Buried on:
- German War Cemetery Berneuil
Plot: 1. Row: 6. Grave: 176. - Service number:
- SS-Nr.: 124.465 // NSDAP-Nr.: 2.387.476
- Nationality:
- German (1933-1945, Third Reich)
Biography
Helmut Kämpfe was after taken prisoner, killed by Franch resistance fighters.
Promotions:
Feldwebel
Leutnant der Reserve
01.03.1940: SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve
30.01.1941: SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve
20.04.1942: SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve
01.09.1943: SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve - RDA September 1st, 1943.
00.06.1944: SS-Obersturmbannführer der Reserve (posthumously)
Career:
00.06.1933: entered the SS, 7.Sturm, 47. SS-Standarte in Gera
00.12.1934-00.03.1936: Unteroffizier, Infanterie-Regiment 102
00.03.1936-00.06.1937: Feldwebel, Infanterie-Regiment 103
00.05.1938-00.07.1938: Leutnant der Reserve, Kavallerie-Schützen-Regiment 7
00.05.1939-00.08.1939: Leutnant der Reserve, Aufklärungs-Regiment 7
00.11.1939: SS-Untersturmführer, SS-Verfügungstruppe, Totenkopfverbände
01.11.1939: SS-Ustuf, Zugführer, 5. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1, SS-Totenkopfdivision
20.10.1939: SS-Ustuf, Zugführer, 5. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1, SS-Totenkopfdivision
00.00.1940: SS-Ustuf, Kompaniechef, Kompanie, SS-Totenkopf-Standarte 12
01.03.1940-30.01.1941: SS-Obersturmführer, Kompaniechef, 8. Kompanie, SS-Totenkopf-Standarte 12
01.02.1941-25.06.1941: SS-Obersturmführer, Kompaniechef, 4. Kompanie, SS-Totenkopf-Standarte 14
26.06.1941-20.10.1941: SS-Obersturmführer, Chef, 2. (Krad) Kompanie, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division „Das Reich"
20.10.1941: WIA and hospitalized
21.10.1941-29.01.1942: SS-Kradschützen-Ersatz-Bataillon
29.01.1942: SS-Ostuf, Chef, 2. (Krad) Kompanie, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 2, Kampfgruppe "SS-Reich"
00.07.1942: SS-Hstuf, Chef, 2. (Krad) Kompanie, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'
00.08.1943: SS-Stubaf, Kommandeur, III. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadierregiment 4 „Der Führer", 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'
00.10.1943: severely WIA during the Chodoroff fighting - 10th wound - hospitalized
00.01.1944: SS-Stubaf, Kommandeur, III. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadierregiment 4 „Der Führer", 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'
09.06.1944: SS-Stubaf, captured by French Resistance near Sauviat-sur-Vige and hidden in a barn of the farm located in Les Noches near Cheissoux
10.06.1944: executed and burried near Cheissoux
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Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
- Rank:
- Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)
- Awarded on:
- 1936
- Rank:
- Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
- Awarded on:
- 1939
- Rank:
- Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
- Awarded on:
- 1939
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
- Unit:
- Chef, 2. (Krad) Kompanie, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'
- Awarded on:
- August 26th, 1941
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
- Unit:
- Chef, 2. (Krad) Kompanie, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'
- Awarded on:
- October 1941
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
- Unit:
- Chef, 2. (Krad) Kompanie, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'
- Awarded on:
- November 7th, 1941
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
- Unit:
- Chef, 2. (Krad) Kompanie, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'
- Awarded on:
- April 2nd, 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)
- Unit:
- Chef, 2. (Krad) Kompanie, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'
- Awarded on:
- July 13th, 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)
- Awarded on:
- March 11th, 1943
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)
- Unit:
- Chef, 2. (Krad) Kompanie, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'
- Awarded on:
- March 11th, 1943
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)
- Unit:
- Chef, 2. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich"
- Awarded on:
- March 11th, 1943
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)
- Unit:
- Chef, 2. (Krad) Kompanie, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'
- Awarded on:
- April 20th, 1943
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- 1943
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve (Major of Reserves)
- Unit:
- Kommandeur, III. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadierregiment 4 „Der Führer", 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'
- Awarded on:
- October 30th, 1943
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve (Major of Reserves)
- Unit:
- Kommandeur, III. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 4 "Der Führer", 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'
- Awarded on:
- December 10th, 1943
“SS-Sturmbannführer Kämpfe has already been submitted once for the Knight’s Cross on account of his bravery. Since then he has again distinguished himself by multiple acts of courage.
During the fighting around the bridgeheads west of the great Dnieper bend the III./ (gep.) SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment ‘DF’ has performed well under the leadership of SS-Sturmbannführer Kämpfe.
In the midst of our containment efforts against the Schtschutschinka bridgehead the enemy commenced an attack towards the west out of their bridgehead in the Dnieper bend after a strong artillery barrage. Their goal was to unite the two bridgeheads.
The enemy succeeded in breaking into the defenses of the 20. Pz.-Gren.Div. and seizing the villages of Chodoroff and Kanada. The Heer units deployed there began falling back.
This was the situation that greeted SS-Sturmbannführer Kämpfe when he reached the area west of Chodoroff with his Bataillon on the 12.10.1943.
Immediately acting with great decisiveness, he took a Kompanie and seized the commanding Hill 169.4 from the enemy. Through his inspiring personal example he motivated his soldiers towards their objective every step of the way, all while under strong opposing fire.
From this hill he was able to observe that the nearby Heer elements had continued to retreat. In response he took 2 SPWs and 3 men to these withdrawing units and took over command of them. Because of his energy and example he was able to get these unfamiliar formations to get back into the fight and counterattack. In the face of enemy resistance consisting of a reinforced battalion and 18 tanks, Sturmbannführer Kämpfe was then able to recapture the lost village of Kanada and the southern part of Chodoroff with only 5 SS men and 50 Heer soldiers.
As this counterattack came to a halt due to the onset of darkness, Kämpfe took a force of just 2 SPWs and with these thrusted towards the northern edge of Chodoroff, eliminating 160 enemy infantry along the way.
Thanks to the the independent decisiveness shown by SS-Sturmbannführer Kämpfe here, not only was the enemy’s will to fight broken, but an extraordinarily dangerous situation was also salvaged. It was only due to the success here that it was possible to reconstruct a defensive line in the right neighbouring sector. Without the initiative and outstanding conduct of SS-Sturmbannführer Kämpfe, the front in the sector Chodoroff—Kanada would have collapsed and the enemy would have undoubtedly succeeded in rolling up our positions at the Dnieper bend towards the west and southeast.
During the many counterthrusts SS-Sturmbannführer Kämpfe was once again wounded, but remained with his Bataillon. Only after receiving his 10th wound, one of a particularly severe nature, did he allow himself to be evacuated.”
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve (Major of Reserves)
- Unit:
- Bataillonskommandeur, III. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 4
- Awarded on:
- December 1943
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Sources
- Photo 1: Wilco Vermeer
- Photo: Wilco Vermeer collection, the Netherlands
- - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
- MOONEY, PETER, Waffen-SS Knights and their Battles, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 2012.
- PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
- Personalunterlagen
- Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
- Dörr M., Die träger der Nahkampfspange in Gold, Heer- Luftwaffe- Waffen-SS 1943-1945, Biblio Verlag Bisendorf, 2006.
- Scrapbookpages.com
- Microfilm Publication A3343. US National Archives.
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