Germany, SS. A Superb Oak Leaves Recommendation Group to SS Obersturmbannführer

A group of documents out lining the career of highly decorated SS member and Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords winner Otto Weidinger. They were used in the creation of Mark C. Yerger’s book “SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Weidinger”.

Grouping includes the following important documentation:

1. A recommendation for the Oak Leaves, 3 pages, measuring 212x298mm, very fine condition with age spots, two punched holes, fraying around the edges, and several small rips. A detailed account of his actions leading to the recommendation is given. The document was issued by SS-Brigadeführer and Major General of the Waffen SS, Commander of the SS Division “Das Reich” Heinz Lammerding (1905–1971), recipient of the Knight’s Cross.

2. A recommendation for the German Cross in Gold, 2 pages, measuring 210x296mm, very fine condition with several small rips and two punched holes. The reverse gives information concerning Weidinger, his assignments, and his awards. It is signed in blue ink by SS-Gruppenführer and Lieutenant General of the Waffen-SS Walter Krüger (1890–1945), recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.

3. A promotion recommendation from SS-Sturmbannführer to SS-Obersturmbannführer, measuring 210x297mm, extremely fine condition with age spots, two punched holes, and a piece missing at the top. The document is dated to September 5, 1944, and signed in blue ink on December 22, 1944 by SS-Standartenführer and Commander of SS Panzer Division “Das Reich”, Otto Baum (1911–1998), recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. At the end of the war he had reached the rank of SS-Oberführer. The reverse gives a detailed list of assignments that Weidinger performed throughout his career, as well as a list of his awards up to that point in time. He had achieved both the Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class, Infantry Assault Badge in Bronze, a War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords, a Wound Badge in Silver, a German Cross in Gold, and the Knight’s Cross.

4. A “Personalnachweis” (personnel verification), measuring 210x296mm, very fine condition with a small rip at the bottom, two small rips on one side, and damage to the other side that has been repaired with clear tape. At the time the document was issued, Weidinger held the rank of SS-Untersturmführer (shown by his collar tab in the picture), and he had been awarded the Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class. The reverse shows his service record, stating the dates of his promotions and assignments.

5. Post War copies of three wartime photos and one post-war photo of Weidinger.

Footnote: Otto Weidinger (1914–1990) was a recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. He joined the SS in 1934, his first assignment being a guard at the Dachau concentration camp. He went to the SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig. During the war, Weidinger saw action in Poland, the Netherlands, Russia, and France. He received the Oak Leaves for his regiment, SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 4 “Der Führer”, freeing over 4000 soldiers from the Falaise pocket (France) and enabling their successful retreat. There is no official account of his award of the Swords, which must have come very close to the end of the war, possibly presented by Oberst-Gruppenführer Sepp Dietrich, and possibly unauthorised.