Christian Tychsen

Christian Tychsen
Born	3 December 1910 Flensburg, Germany
Died	28 July 1944 Gavray, France
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen SS
Years of service	1931–1944
Rank	Obersturmbannführer
Unit	2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross with Oakleaves German Cross in Gold Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class

Not to be confused with the governor of the Danish Gold Coast of the same name

Christian Tychsen was a Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel) in the Waffen SS who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Early career

Tychsen joined the SS in December 1931 with 50.SS-Standarte. He was later transferred to the SS/VT in October 1934 and served with the Germania Regiment as a platoon leader from October 1936 until December 1938 when he became the Commander of the 1st Company 'N' Battalion.

WWII

Tychsen (second left)is presented with the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves in Russia, April 1943.

When 'N' Battalion was dissolved he was moved to command the 1st Motorcycle Company. In February 1941 his command was absorbed by the Motorcycle Battalion and was renamed the 3rd Company, although Schafraanek still kept command.

In January 1942 he was given the command of the Motorcycle Battalion. After being wounded in February, 1942 he was posted to the SS Officers school at Braunschweig until he had recovered. In May 1942, he was given the command of II./Langemarck Regiment and retained in this position when it became the II./2nd Panzer Regiment in October 1942. In April 1943 he was awarded the Knight's Cross.

Tychsen became 2nd SS Panzer Rgt commander on November, 1943, and held command until he replaced the wounded Heinz Lammerding as temporary Commanding Officer of the Das Reich Division.

Death

After being wounded more than nine times in total, he was killed in Normandy (Operation Overlord) when the Kubelwagen, which he was in with a driver and an NCO, was fired upon by an advancing American tank. He died of his wounds in American captivity. Looters took his tunic with all his decorations and all other types of identification, so he was buried as an unknown soldier, but was later identified.^[1]

References

Citations

1. ^ "dasreich". http://www.dasreich.ca/tychsen.html. 

Bibliography

• Krätschmer, Ernst-Günther (1999). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Waffen-SS (in German). Coburg, Germany: Nation Europa Verlag GmbH. ISBN 3-920677-43-9.

Military offices
Preceded by SS-Gruppenführer Heinz Lammerding	Commander of 2nd SS Division Das Reich July 24, 1944 - July 28, 1944	Succeeded by SS-Brigadeführer Otto Baum

Persondata
Name	Tychsen, Christian
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	3 December 1910
Place of birth	Flensburg, Germany
Date of death	28 July 1944
Place of death	Gavray, France