Bernhard Krause

Bernhard Krause
Born	11 May 1910 Weimar, Germany
Died
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen-SS
Years of service	1934–45
Rank	Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel)
Unit	1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross I Class Iron Cross II Class German Cross in Gold Eastern Front Medal

Bernhard Krause (11 May 1910 – 19 February 1945) was an Obersturmbannführer (lieutenant colonel) in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Early life

Bernhard Krause was born on the 11 May 1910, in Weimar, Germany. After completing his schooling he volunteered to join the SS-VT in January 1934, and posted to the SS Standarte Deutschland. In 1935 he was selected to become an officer and sent to the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tölz. Upon graduation he was promoted to Untersturmführer (second lieutenant) in April and further promoted to Obersturmführer (first lieutenant) in April 1936. He was given command of the 5th Company, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH) and promoted to Hauptsturmführer (captain) in January 1939.

World War II

Krause took part in the early campaigns of the war the Polish Campaign and the Battle of France. He was awarded his first combat decoration, the Iron Cross II class, in April 1941, during Operation Marita the invasion of the Balkans. He next took part in Operation Barbarossa the invasion of the Soviet Union and was awarded the Iron Cross I class in August followed by the Eastern Front Medal for service on the Eastern Front during the first Russian winter of the war in 1942.

Krause was given command of the I. Battalion, 1st SS Panzergrenadier Regiment Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler in 1943 and then the 1st SS Flak Battalion LSSAH, and fought in the Battle of Kharkov in command of the Flak Battalion where the battalions attacks were of crucial importance.

Krause was then transferred to the newly formed SS division 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend in July 1943, and given command of the I. Battalion, 26th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment. This new Division's first combat was in the Battle of Normandy in June 1944, in the area of Saint Manvieu. For his actions, he was awarded the German Cross in Gold.

Krause was awarded the Knight's Cross for his actions in August 1944, in the sector along the Caen to Falaise road. Krause was then given command of the 26th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment, 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend. He was killed in action on 19 February 1945.

Commands

• 5th Company, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
• I. Battalion, 1st SS Panzergrenadier Regiment LSSAH (1943)
• 1st SS Flak Battalion, LSSAH (1943)
• I. Battalion, 26th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment Hitlerjugend (July 1943 - August 1944)
• 26th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment (August 1944 February 1945)

Further reading

• Reynolds, Michael (1997). Steel Inferno: I SS Panzer Corps in Normandy. Spellmount. ISBN 1-873376-90-1