Wilhelm Trabandt

August Wilhelm Trabandt (21 July 1891 – 19 May 1968) was a German SS functionary during the Nazi era. He commanded the 1st SS Infantry Brigade and the SS Division Horst Wessel during World War II.

August Wilhelm Trabant
Trabandt (front row) with the 1st SS Infantry Brigade, January 1944
Born21 July 1891
Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died19 May 1968(1968-05-19) (aged 76)
Hamburg, West Germany
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Waffen-SS
RankBrigadeführer
Commands held1st SS Infantry Brigade
SS Division Horst Wessel
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

SS career

Trabandt was born in Berlin, Germany on the 21 July 1891. In May 1936, Trabandt volunteered to join the SS-VT. At the start of World War II, Trabandt was the commander of the III. Battalion, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler Regiment. He took part in the Invasion of Poland and the Battle of France. Facing accusations of smuggling following the campaign, Trabandt was posted to the 1st SS Infantry Brigade that was charged with the Nazi security warfare and the murder of the Jewish population in the occupied territories in the Soviet Union. He was given command of the SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 39 in March 1943, and took over command of the Brigade in September 1943.

Trabandt was awarded the Knight's Cross on 6 January 1944, just before the Brigade was disbanded and used to form the cadre of the SS Division Horst Wessel. Trabandt was given command of the division and remained in command until April 1945.[1] After the war had ended, Trabandt was imprisoned in the Soviet Union until 1954. He died on 19 May 1968, in Hamburg, Germany.

References
  1. Williamson, Gordon. The Waffen-SS

Further reading
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
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