Johannes-Rudolf Mühlenkamp

Johannes-Rudolf Mühlenkamp (9 October 1910 – 23 September 1986) was a Standartenführer (colonel) in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 21 September 1944.

Biography

Early life

Mühlenkamp was born on 9 October 1910 in Montigny-lès-Metz, Alsace-Lorraine. He joined the NSDAP (Nazi Party) and the SS in April 1933. Mühlenkamp was given the party number 2,800,042 and the SS service number 86,065. He was first assigned to the 4th SS Standarte Schleswig Holstein in Hamburg before being moved to the 2nd SS Standarte of the SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT) in 1934. Mühlenkamp was selected to become an officer in 1935. He was sent to the SS junker school at Braunschweig.

From April to May 1936, Mühlenkamp completed motorcycle training with the Heers 2nd Panzer Division, being highly successful in pre-World War II motorcycle competitions. On completion of his officer training, Mühlenkamp was assigned to the 2nd Battalion of the Germania Regiment (5th SS Panzer Division Wiking) as a Zugführer (platoon leader) on November 1937. Mühlenkamp took over command of the Motor Cycle Company on May 1938.