Rudolf von Ribbentrop

Rudolf von Ribbentrop (born 11 May 1921) is a former German Waffen-SS officer who served in World War II. He was the son of the German diplomat and later Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop. Rudolf von Ribbentrop distinguished himself in the Continuation War.

Ribbentrop spent a year at Westminster School, London while his father was Ambassador to Britain. Peter Ustinov was his schoolmate at this time, as related in his autobiography "Dear Me" (1971). Ustinov is also supposed to have clandestinely leaked Ribbentrop's presence at his school to "The Times". The result of this was the prompt withdrawal of the younger Ribbentrop from the school as a precautionary measure for his safety, as well as for security of his father's mission in London.

Military career

Awards

*Iron Cross II: 19 June 1940
*Infantry Assault Badge Bronze: 1 October 1940
*Wound Badge in Black: 18 April 1940
*Finnish Cross of Liberty IV: 1 October 1941
*Iron Cross I: 18 March 1943
*Wound Badge in Silver: 1 May 1943
*Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross: 15 July 1943
*German Cross in Gold: 25 August 1944
*Wound Badge in Gold:

Commissioned Ranks

*Commissioned SS-Untersturmführer: 20 April 1941
*SS-Obersturmführer: 20 April 1943
*SS-Hauptsturmführer: 30 January 1945

Wounds

*Wounded: Fragment in upper right arm 30 May 1940
*Wounded: Bullet wound in left forearm 2 September 1941
*Wounded: Shot in back 5 February 1943
*Wounded: Wounded in back by strafing enemy fighter-bomber 3 June 1944
*Wounded: Shell fragment in Mouth 20 December 1944

urrender

* Taken prisoner by Americans 8 May 1945

ee also

* Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
* 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend

References

* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
* Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit. "Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II". Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, 2001. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.

Panzer Aces - Franz Kurowski - 2004 - Stackpole Publishing