Hans Kempin

Infobox Military Person
name= Hans Kempin
lived=07 June, 1913 - 30 November, 1992


placeofbirth=Berlin-Lichtenberg
placeofdeath=
nickname=
allegiance=Germany
serviceyears=1931-1945
rank=Standartenführer
commands= 547. Volksgrenadier-Division, 32.SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division "30.Januar", 38. SS-Grenadierdivision "Nibelungen", Waffen-SS Unterführerschule Laibach
unit=Leibstandarte-SS "Adolf Hitler", SS-Standarte "Deutschland", SS-Regiment "Der Führer".
battles=
awards=EK I
laterwork=

SS-Standartenführer Hans Wilhelm Kempin (1913-1992) was a German Waffen-SS combat and training officer who served in the SS-Standarte "Deutschland", SS-Regiment "Der Führer" and later commanded the 547. Volksgrenadier-Division, 38. SS-Grenadierdivision "Nibelungen", 32.SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division "30.Januar" and the Waffen-SS Unterführerschule in Laibach.

Early Life - Pre-War SS Service

Hans Kempin, a son of businessman Willi Kempin, was born in Berlin-Lichtenberg on June 07, 1913. After graduating from the Hohenzollern Gymnasium in Schwedt in 1928, Hans worked as a banker. In the September 1930, he joined Sturmabteilung, or the SA, and in December of the same year also the NSDAP. After two years as an SA member, in July 1932, the 19-year old Kempin entered the SS-VT and was given the rank SS-Anwärter. In October 1933, Hans Kempin was assigned to the premier SS-VT division Leibstandarte-SS "Adolf Hitler" and then send to the new SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tölz. After his graduation he served with the SS-Standarte "Deutschland" and later was given command at the SS-Junkerschule "Braunschweig". In 1938, he was transferred back to SS-Standarte "Deutschland" and remained with this unit until March 1941.

World War II Service

With the SS-Standarte "Deutschland", SS–Hauptsturmführer Kempin participated in the invasion of Poland and the subsequent operations in the West; receiving both classes of the Iron Cross. Kempin remained with this unit until March 1941 when he was transferred to the SS-Regiment "Der Führer" where he served first with the "13.Kompanie" and later with the "II.Battalion" under future SS- Brigadeführer Heinz Harmel. Unfortunately, on September 3, 1941 he was seriously wounded by shrapnel from a grenade and was hospitalized until December 1941. After recovering from his injuries Hans Kempin returned back to the field with the "Der Führer". However, on February 1, 1942 instead of continuing on with his old regiment, Kempin was transferred as an instructor to the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tölz and later also to SS-Junkerschule "Braunschweig", and finally to Waffen-SS Unterführerschule in Posen-Treskau. On December 1, 1943, he was promoted to SS- Obersturmbannführer and two months later received command of the Waffen-SS Unterführerschule located in Laibach. He remained its commander until late February, 1945 when he was assigned to lead first the 547. Volksgrenadier-Division then the newly formed 38. SS-Grenadierdivision "Nibelungen" and finally the 32.SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division "30.Januar". Together with the remnants of "30.Januar", SS-Standartenführer Hans Kempin surrendered to the Americans on May 8, 1945.

After the war he worked in agriculture and owned one of the most technically advanced farms in Germany. Hans Kempin died on November 30, 1992 at the age of 79.

Personal life

* On July 25, 1938, Kempin married Gustel Westphal and they had together one son and one daughter.

ummary of SS career

Dates of rank

* SS-Anwärter: July, 1932
* SS-Mann: November, 1932
* SS-Rottenführer: December 01, 1933
* SS-Hauptscharführer: December 20, 1934
* SS-Oberjunker: December 20, 1934
* SS-Untersturmführer: April 20, 1935
* SS-Obersturmführer: April 20, 1936
* SS-Hauptsturmführer: August 15, 1939
* SS-Sturmbannführer: September 01, 1941
* SS-Obersturmbannführer: December 01, 1943
* SS-Standartenführer: March 01, 1945

Notable decorations

* Iron Cross Second (1940) and First (1940) Classes
* Sudetenland Medal (?) with Prague Castle bar (?)
* Anschluss Medal (?)
* Infantry Assault Badge(1940)
* Wound Badge in Black (1940)
* War Merit Cross with Swords Second (?) and First (?) Classes
* SA-Sports Badge in Bronze (?)
* Waffen-SS Long Service Award (?)

References

* Yerger, Mark C. - "Waffen-Ss Commanders: The Army, Corps and Divisiional Leaders of a

###@@@KEY@@@###succession box
before= none
after= SS-Obersturmbannführer Richard Schulze-Kossens
title= Commander of 38. SS-Grenadierdivision "Nibelungen"
years=March 1, 1945 - March 15, 1945
###@@@KEY@@@###succession box
before= SS-Oberführer Adolf Ax
after= none
title= Commander of 32.SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division "30.Januar"
years=March 15, 1945 - May 08, 1945