Waldemar Fegelein

Waldemar Fegelein
File:Waldemar Fegelein.jpg
Born	(1912-01-09)9 January 1912 Ansbach, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire
Died	Berlin, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen-SS
Years of service	1938–1945
Rank	SS-Standartenführer (colonel)
Unit	Waffen-SS 8th SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer 37th SS Volunteer Cavalry Division Lützow
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross German Cross in Gold Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Close Combat Clasp in Bronze General Assault Badge in Bronze
Relations	Hermann Fegelein brother Gretl Braun sister in law Eva Braun sister in law

Waldemar Fegelein (9 January 1912 – 20 November 2000) was a SS-Standartenführer (colonel) in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career

Waldemar Fegelein was born on 9 January 1912, in Ansbach, the younger brother of Hermann Fegelein. His father operated a horse riding school in Munich which was forced to close due to the worldwide economic depression of the 1920s.

He volunteered to join the SS-VT/Waffen-SS and during World War II was awarded the Knight's Cross as a SS-Sturmbannführer (major) in command of the 2nd SS Cavalry Regiment in December 1943, which was serving on the Eastern Front. He was personally presented with the medal by Heinrich Himmler.

Fegelein, like his brother, Hermann, went on to command an SS Division, the 37th SS Volunteer Cavalry Division Lützow.

Waldemar Fegelein was implicated in the killing of Russian Partisans/Jews during the war and in one incident specifically he reportedly ordered his men to murder 21 Jewish men in the town of Starobin on 21-08-1941, at the end of an anti partisan sweep called "Operation Turov". His brother Hermann reported that over 13.000 Jews/Partisans had been terminated during this operation. Waldemar Fegelein was promoted to Standartenführer on 12-21-1944. Among his many decorations, Fegelein received the following: Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, German Cross in Gold, Iron Cross 1st Class, Iron Cross 2nd Class, the Wound Badge, the German Sports Badge in Gold, SS Honor Ring and SS Honor Sword. Fegelein survived the war and was released from the prisoner camp in Darmstadt on 25-11-1946 and changed his name to Axel Fegelein, though he would sign autograph requests with his birth name. He led his own riding school near Bad Wörishofen and never had to justify himself for his war crimes.

Waldemar Fegelein died 20-11-2000, age 88 in Obermeitingen. Fegelein is buried with his wife Anneliese, who died age 66 in 1990, on the Neuer Friedhof of Oberwinter.

Further reading

Military offices
Preceded by none	Commander of 37th SS Volunteer Cavalry Division Lützow February 1945 – March 1945	Succeeded by Standartenführer Karl Gesele