| class="fn" colspan="2" style="background-color: #4F3B21; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;" | Léon Degrelle |
|---|---|
| colspan="2" style="background-color: #4F3B21; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;" | 15 June 1906
Bouillon, Wallonia, Belgium – 31 March 1994 (aged 87) Málaga, Andalusia, Spain |
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa; line-height: 1.5em;" |  |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany
|
| Service/branch | *  Heer
|
| Years of service | 1941–45 |
| Rank | Standartenführer |
| Unit | File:28. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division, „Wallonien”.svg 28th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division Wallonien |
| Battles/wars | World War II
|
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
| Other work | * Leader of the Rexist Party
|
Léon Joseph Marie Ignace Degrelle was born 15 June 1906 and died 31 March 1994 at the age of 87. He was a Walloon Belgian politician and a collaborator of the National Socialist German Workers' Party. He was also the founder of Rexism and he joined the Waffen SS later on and became a leader of front-line troops in German combat operations against the Soviet Union. After World War II, he became a prominent figure in Fascist movements.
Military record[]
Promotions:
Léon Degrelle (center-left) awarding medals to members of the Walloon SS, April 1944
- 12 February 1942; Gefreiter (Heer)
- 28 February 1942; Oberfeldwebel (Heer)
- 1 May 1942; Leutnant d. R. (Heer)
- 1 June 1943; SS-Obersturmführer d. R. der Waffen-SS
- 1 January 1944; SS-Hauptsturmführer d. R. der Waffen-SS
- 1 April 1944; SS-Sturmbannführer d. R. der Waffen-SS
- 1 January 1945; SS-Obersturmbannführer d. R. der Waffen-SS
- 20 April 1945; SS-Standartenführer d. R. der Waffen-SS
- Degrelle was promoted directly to SS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor der Waffen-SS d. R. by Heinrich Himmler on 2 May 1945; an entry to this effect appears in his Soldbuch, however this promotion cannot be considered official as Himmler had been stripped of all SS and Party posts by Führer order on 28 April 1945.
Decorations & awards:
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
- 22 August 1944 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht
- 27 August 1944 Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes as SS-Sturmbannführer d. R. and Kdr. 5.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzer-Brigade "Wallonien" / Kampfgruppe Wagner / Armee-Abteilung Narwa / Heeresgruppe Nord, Northeastern Front
- 20 February 1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes as SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer d. R., and Führer SS-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien" / 8.Armee / Heeresgruppe Süd, Eastern Front
- 9 October 1944 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold as SS-Sturmbannführer d. R. and Kdr. 5.SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" / III.(germanische) SS-Panzer-Korps / Armee-Abteilung Grasser / Heeresgruppe Nord, Northeastern Front
- 25 May 1942; 1939 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse[1]
- 3 March 1942; 1939 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse[1]
- 14 September 1944; Nahkampfspange III.Stufe (Gold)
- 19 March 1944; Nahkampfspange II.Stufe (Silber)
- 30 November 1943; Nahkampfspange I.Stufe (Bronze) (other documents indicate 23 December 1943 and 20 February 1944)
- 25 August 1942; Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
- 19 March 1944; Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Gold
- 20 February 1944; Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Silber (another document indicates 23 December 1943)
- 15 August 1942; Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)[2]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Thomas 1997, p. 111.
- ↑ Mike Miller. Axis Biographical Research. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved on 2010-12-08., 10 June 2005)