Hermann von Salza Hermann von Salza ( or Hermann of Salza ) ( c . 1165 – March 20 , 1239 ) was the fourth Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights , serving from 1210 to 1239 . A skilled diplomat with ties to the Holy Roman Emperor and the Pope , Hermann oversaw the expansion of the military order into Prussia . Biography . Hermann von Salza was born to a dynasty of ministeriales of the Thuringian landgraves , probably at Dryburg Castle in Langensalza . With Landgrave Louis III of Thuringia he may have already taken part in the 1189 / 91 Siege of Acre , where the Teutonic Order was founded . He possibly also joined Landgrave Hermann I and the Henneberg count Otto von Botenlauben on the Crusade of 1197 and witnessed the coronation of King Amalric II of Jerusalem . The crusade was aborted upon the death of Emperor Henry VI , whereafter the Teutonic Knights were - re - established as a military order under Grand Master Heinrich Walpot von Bassenheim to secure the conquered estates of the Holy Land . The precise time of Hermann ' s entry into the Order is unknown , but he first appears as Grand Master at the coronation of Count John of Brienne as King of Jerusalem in 1210 . As such he may have spent some time in the Mediterranean Sea region during the first year of his rule . During this period the activities of the Knights were extended from Spain to Livonia . Hermann was a friend and councilor of the Hohenstaufen emperor Frederick II , for whom he represented as a mediator in the Papal curia from 1222 onwards . Pope Honorius III also recognized Hermann ' s capabilities , and granted the Teutonic Knights an equal status with the Knights Hospitaller and the Knights Templar , after it had gone into decline under previous Grand Masters . At the request of King Andrew II of Hungary in 1211 , Hermann led the placing of Teutonic Knights in the Burzenland in Transylvania to defend against the Cumans . Hungarian nobles complained of the order ' s presence , however , and they were forced to leave by 1225 . Meanwhile , Hermann accompanied Frederick on the Fifth Crusade against Damietta in 1219 , and he was decorated for bravery by John of Brienne . Hermann later convinced Frederick to undertake the Sixth Crusade , and was partially responsible for Frederick ' s marriage to Yolanda , John of Brienne ' s daughter . Upon his return to Europe , Hermann helped to lift Frederick ' s excommunication . He was then requested by Konrad I of Masovia to fight the pagan Old Prussians . After Hermann had gained approval from both the Pope and the Emperor the knights began their lengthy campaign to Christianize Prussia in 1230 . Hermann ' s subsequent visits with the Pope or the Emperor brought new privileges and donations to the Order . He was also able to obtain the incorporation of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword into the Teutonic Order in 1237 . The importance of Hermann ' s role as mediator between Pope Gregory IX and the emperor can be seen by the fact that all communication between Frederick and the pope broke off with Hermann ' s death . Within the Teutonic Order , however , the knights began to grow dissatisfied at the absence of their Grand Master , so they recalled him and had him withdraw from his political life . However , he was less successful as a religious leader , and soon retired to Salerno in 1238 . He died there in 1239 . In World War II , SS - Panzer - Abteilung 11 was named " Hermann von Salza " .