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Walter Bestmann was born on the 2 October 1907 in Luebeck. He was one of the early volunteers to join the SS (SS service number 20.135), NSDAP (Party Number 307,449) and was selected to become an officer promoted to SS-Untersturmführer in August 1933.
In September 1939 he was in command of the 4th Kompanie, LSSAH (Leibestandarte 1st Division SS-Adolf Hitler) for the Polish Campaign and was then given command of the III.Battalion, SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1, in the newly formed SS Totenkopf Division for the Battle of France.
He participated in the invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa), in 1941 where he was awarded the Knight's Cross in September 1941 while in command of the 3rd SS Reconnaissance Battalion, SS Totenkopf.
In September 1942, Walter Bestmann was promoted to SS-Sturmbannführer and given command of the 10.SS-Panzer-Regiment, 10.SS-Panzer-Division 'Frundsberg' until September 1943 when he took over as the commander of the SS-Junkerschule at Klagenfurt until the end of the war.
Walter Bestmann survived the war and died on the 17 June 1958 in Lübeck.
In September 1939 he was in command of the 4th Kompanie, LSSAH (Leibestandarte 1st Division SS-Adolf Hitler) for the Polish Campaign and was then given command of the III.Battalion, SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1, in the newly formed SS Totenkopf Division for the Battle of France.
He participated in the invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa), in 1941 where he was awarded the Knight's Cross in September 1941 while in command of the 3rd SS Reconnaissance Battalion, SS Totenkopf.
In September 1942, Walter Bestmann was promoted to SS-Sturmbannführer and given command of the 10.SS-Panzer-Regiment, 10.SS-Panzer-Division 'Frundsberg' until September 1943 when he took over as the commander of the SS-Junkerschule at Klagenfurt until the end of the war.
Walter Bestmann survived the war and died on the 17 June 1958 in Lübeck.
DISCLAIMER: 2. Kompanie is a non-political organization We do not support naziism, or fascism. We are not associated with nor do we condone the actions of the Third Reich or the actual 3.SS Division.