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Langanke, Fritz (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:
July 15th, 1919 (Gelenkirchen-Buer, Germany)
Date of death:
July 10th, 2012 (Gelsenkirchen, Germany)
Service number:
SS-Nr.: // NSDAP-Nr.:
Nationality:
German

Biography

00.00.1934: Hitlerjugend
01.11.1936-31.10.1937: RAD
01.11.1937: 10. Sturm, SS-Standarte 'Germania'
00.00.1938: SS-Funker, Aufklärungszug, 10. Sturm, SS-Standarte 'Germania'
00.09.1939: campaign in Poland
01.11.1939: promoted to SS-Sturmmann
01.04.1940: promoted to SS-Rottenführer
00.03.1941: SS-Regiment 'Germania', SS-Division 'Reich' - campaign in the Balkans
00.06.1941: campaign in Russia
00.11.1941: Battle for Moscow
01.02.1943: promoted to SS-Unterscharführer, Panzerkommandant, SS-Panzer-Regiment 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich' - Battle for Kursk
00.06.1944: SS-Standartenoberjunker, Zugführer, II. Zug, 2. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich' - battle of Normandy - Falaise, La Baleine - Operation Lüttich
00.12.1944: SS-Ustuf, Chef, 2. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich' - Battle of the Bulge
00.01.1945: promoted to SS-Obersturmführer
Tank ace credited with 9 tank kills

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Awarded on:
1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
Awarded on:
1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS- Rottenführer (Corporal)
Awarded on:
August 10th, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS- Rottenführer (Corporal)
Awarded on:
December 15th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
in silver
Panzerkampfabzeichen (ohne Zahl)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Standartenoberjunker
Unit:
Zugführer, 2. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 "Das Reich", 2. SS-Panzer-Division “Das Reich”, 7. Armee, Heeresgruppe B
Awarded on:
August 27th, 1944
The following wartime excerpt describes why Langanke would be awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“SS-Standartenoberjunker Langanke, Zugführer in the II./SS-Pz.Rgt. 2, was separated from his Abteilung along with 3 Panthers on the 28.07.1944. In this time he made the independent decision to rally 300 Heer Grenadiers and launch a breakout attempt on the night of the 29./30.07.1944. Advancing via St. Denis he personally destroyed 13 tanks, 4 anti-tank guns, 8 halftracks and 10 trucks over a series of hard yet successful engagements. Ultimately he managed to make it back to friendly lines while also clearing open the way to freedom for many other units including a self-propelled Flak-Batterie (with five 3.7 cm guns), 2 Grille SPGs, 3 Sturmgeschützen and 29 trucks.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

Photos