Franz Kleffner

Who was Franz Kleffner?

Franz Kleffner was an Obersturmbannführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. This was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Franz Kleffner was born on the 2 July 1907 at Altena. He was one of the early members of the SS joining in December 1930.

He was selected to become an office and promoted to Untersturmführer in April 1935 and Hauptsturmführer by the start of World War II, when he was given command of the 13th Company, SS Totenkopf Infantry Regiment in the newly formed SS Totenkopf Division.

He was awarded the Knight's Cross, while in command of the SS Motorcycle Battalion, SS Totenkopf in February 1942, while fighting on the Eastern Front during Operation Barbarossa. In early February, the Soviets captured Bjakowo, cutting off the Totenkopf, from the main German force, II. Armeekorps, encircled around Demyansk.