Lothar Swierzinski

Who was Lothar Swierzinski?

Lothar Swierzinski was an Unterscharführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Lothar Swierzinski was born on the 28 July 1921 at Gelsenkirchen. He volunteered to join the SS and was posted to the 10th Company, 5th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment, 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf. He was awarded the Iron Cross class 2 in November 1942 and the 1st class in November 1943.

His Knight's Cross was awarded in December 1943 when as a Rottenführer his platoon was defending the Kirovohrad - Krivoi sector in October 1943; the Soviet Union troops had managed to break through the German front line, his platoon under his command managed to hold off several Soviet attacks and reestablish the front line.

Swierzinski died on the 29 October 1944 from wounds received the previous day during the Battle of Warsaw.