Wilhelm Trabandt

August Wilhelm Trabant
1 SS Infantry Brigade January 1944, Standartenführer Wilhelm Trabandt in the front row
Born	21 July 1891 Berlin, German Empire
Died	19 May 1968(1968-05-19) (aged 76) Hamburg, West Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	, Waffen SS
Years of service	World War I 1914–18 World War II 1936–44
Rank	Brigadeführer
Commands held	1 SS Infantry Brigade SS Panzergrenadier Division Horst Wessel
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

August Wilhelm Trabandt (21 July 1891 – 19 May 1968) was a high-ranking member of the Waffen-SS during World War II. He commanded the 1 SS Infantry Brigade and the SS Panzergrenadier Division Horst Wessel. Trabandt was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Career

Born in 1891, August Wilhelm Trabandt se served in World War I and was awarded the Iron Cross I & II class. In May 1936, Trabandt volunteered to join the SS-VT (SS service number 218.852). At the start of World War II, Trabandt was commander of a battalion, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler Regiment. He took part in the Polish Campaign and was awarded the Iron Cross II class in September 1939. With the regiment, he took part in the Battle of France.

Accused of smuggling, Trabandt was posted to the 1 SS Infantry Brigade as punishment. The 1 SS Infantry Brigade was used on rear-security duties and also took part in the extermination of the Jewish population of the occupied territories in the Soviet Union. Trabandt was given command of the SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 39 in March 1943, and took over command of the brigade in September 1943. As the brigade commander he was awarded the German Cross in Gold in October. He was awarded the Knight's Cross on the 6 January 1944, just before the Brigade was disbanded and used to form the cadre of the SS Division Horst Wessel, with Trabandt in command until April 1945. Trabandt was taken prisoner by the Soviet Union and released in 1954. He died in 1968.

Further reading