Hans Kempin SS - Standartenführer ( Colonel ) Hans Wilhelm Kempin ( 7 June 1913 – 30 November 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 " ( the name Nibelungen comes from German mythology , which was the name of a lineage of dwarves , who were defeated by Siegfried ) , 32 . SS - Freiwilligen - Grenadier - Division " 30 . Januar " ( the strange title of the division , comes from the date when Adolf Hitler , became the chancellor of Germany on 30 January 1933 ) , and the Waffen - SS Unterführerschule in Laibach ( Ljubljana ) . Early Life - Pre - War SS Service . Hans Kempin , a son of businessman Willi Kempin , was born in Berlin - Lichtenberg . After graduating from the Hohenzollern Gymnasium in Schwedt in 1928 , Hans worked as a banker . In 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 ( Candidate ) . In October 1933 , Hans Kempin was assigned to the premier SS - VT division Leibstandarte - SS " Adolf Hitler " and then sent 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 ( Captain ) 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 3 September 1941 he was seriously wounded by shrapnel from a grenade and was hospitalized until December 1941 . After recovering from his injuries Hans Kempin returned to the field with the " Der Führer " . However , on 1 February 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 1 December 1943 , he was promoted to SS - Obersturmbannführer ( Lieutenant Colonel ) and two months later received command of the Waffen - SS Unterführerschule located in Laibach ( Ljubljana ) . 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 8 May 1945 . After the war he worked in agriculture and owned one of the most technically advanced farms in Germany . Hans Kempin died on 30 November 1992 at the age of 79 . Summary of SS career . Decorations . ( ? ) indicates date unknown