Friedrich-Wilhelm Richter

Who was Friedrich-Wilhelm Richter?

Friedrich-Wilhelm Heinrich Richter was a Sturmbannführer in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was a recipient of 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.

Friedrich-Wilhelm Richter was born on the 9 May 1911, in Picher near Hannover. In 1936 he volunteered to join the SS-VT, and was posted to the SS Standarte Germania in Radolfzell, he was selected to become an officer and by November 1939, had been promoted to Hauptsturmführer. He served with the SS Totenkopf Division during the Battle of France and was awarded the Iron Cross II class in July 1940.

He later served with the 1st SS Panzergrenadier Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler and took part in the invasion of the Soviet Union where he was awarded the Iron Cross I class in October 1941.

On the formation of the new division, 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg he was transferred as commander of the I. Battalion, 22 Panzergrenadier Regiment and was awarded the German Cross in Gold while in command. He was next given command of the II.