Rudolf von Ribbentrop Rudolf von Ribbentrop ( born 11 May 1921 ) is a former German Waffen - SS Captain who served in World War II . He is the son of the German diplomat and Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop . Ribbentrop distinguished himself in the Continuation War . Early life . Ribbentrop spent a year at Westminster School , London while his father was Ambassador to Britain . The British diplomat Brian Urquhart , a student at the same school during Ribbentrop ' s time there , in his autobiography " " A Life in Peace and War ( 1987 ) " " describes the latter as being " " doltish , surly and arrogant " " . Urquhart recalls that Ribbentrop , much to the dismay of his schoolmates , " " arrived each morning in one of two plum - colored Mercedes - Benz limousines " " . Urquhart further recalls , " " On arrival in Dean ' s Yard , both chauffeurs would spring out , give the Nazi salute , and shout " Heil Hitler ! " " Peter Ustinov was his schoolmate at this time , as related in Ustinov ' s autobiography " Dear Me " ( 1971 ) . Ustinov is also supposed to have clandestinely leaked Ribbentrop ' s presence at his school to " The Times " . The result of this was the prompt withdrawal of the younger Ribbentrop from the school as a precautionary measure for his safety , as well as for security of his father ' s mission in London . Though bearing the aristocratic " von " due to his father ' s adoption , he was not a member of the nobility . In 1960 he married Ilse - Marie Freiin von Münchhausen ( 1914 — 2010 ) . In 2008 Rudolf von Ribbentrop published a biography of his father , the foreign minister . It was in its original title called " Joachim von Ribbentrop : Mein Vater : Erlebnisse und Erinnerungen " . It has not been translated from German to any other language , although a translation into English is forthcoming . Military career . Beginning . On 1 September 1939 , when World War II started , von Ribbentrop joined as a recruit in the replacement battalion of the SS - Infantry Regiment " Deutschland " in Munich . A month later , in October 1939 , von Ribbentrop was transferred to the field regiment , which was located in the occupied portion of Czechoslovakia . In this regiment , he was enlisted to the " 11 . Kompanie " . He served in this " Kompanie " during the Western Campaign , winning the Iron Cross second class , and was promoted to " Sturmmann " . He was also wounded for the first time . After the Western Campaign , Ribbentrop was sent to the " SS - Junkerschule " in Braunschweig in order to gain training as platoon leader . He was commissioned on 20 April 1941 as a " Untersturmführer " . He was given command of a platoon in " 1 . Kompanie " in Reconnaissance Battalion " " Nord " " . Upon the invasion of Russia , " SS - Kampfgruppe Nord " was sent to Finland where Ribbentrop was to distinguish himself and was awarded the Finnish Freedom Cross , fourth class . On 2 September 1941 , Ribbentrop was wounded again in his left forearm . He was sent to the SS hospital in Hohenlychen , where he stayed until February 1942 . After a home leave , he was reassigned to the newly formed " Panzerregiment " of the 1st SS Division " Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler " ( LSSAH ) . Russian Front . He was transferred to " 3 . Kompanie ' s " 1st Platoon as a platoon leader . Ribbentrop arrived through Pommerania and Eastern Prussia in Kharkov in February 1943 . Soon , the SS - Panzer Corps - commanded by Paul Hausser , was threatened to be surrounded by the Soviets . Hausser commanded an attack towards the south in order to break the encirclement . SS - Lieutenant Colonel Kurt Meyer led his regiment towards the Alexeyevska ( or Alexeyewka ) . During that time , Ribbentrop was an armoured vehicle commander . The German 7th Company attacked the enemy ' s armoured spearhead in a marshy area . The 6th company went to protect its sister company and secure its withdrawal . They destroyed several Soviet light tanks and anti - tank guns . During the battle , Ribbentrop heard the voice of the company ' s radio operator , Lieutenant Alt , who informed him that the company ' s commander tank had been knocked down . Not long after , Ribbentrop ' s Panzer IV received a minor hit which destroyed its antenna and disabled future communication . Light Soviet forces were driven back by evening . Hausser ' s rescue plan was launched in morning , two days after , while Ribbentrop was with his company in Merefa . There he met Hausser for the very first time , who told them " Good luck ! " Meyer received an order to hit the Soviet encircling ring at its weakest point in Nowaja Vololaga . His goal was to establish a connection with Fritz Witt ' s battle group . Second Platoon of the 6th Company , led by SS - Lieutenant Erckardt had a task to lead the company . Soon , Erckardt entered into a firefight in a village , and he was soon killed . Ribbentrop received an order to replace him . After he took command of the 2nd Platoon , Ribbentrop ordered an advance at high speed . They passed scattered Soviet troops , and , during the advance , they destroyed few light tanks and anti - tank guns without slowing their advance . Such a manouevre placed Meyer 40 kilometers behind the Soviet spearhead . Meyer stayed behind Ribbentrop ' s tanks in his car and didn ' t let other tanks halt . Tanks freely raced through Kharkov facing minor opposition from the Soviets on their left and right flanks . Just before the dark , they reached Yefremowka , a village near Alexeyevska , which was their goal for the day . Alexeyevska was captured on 13 February . In order to liberate Alexeyevska , the Soviets launched a fierce attack . However , the Germans succeeded defending the town with heavy losses . During the action , a Soviet sniper wounded Ribbentrop through the lung . Ribbentrop refused to be pulled back to a hospital , but instead he went to rescue wounded soldiers . Ribbentrop was awarded the Iron Cross first class for his personal bravery in these battles . After serving briefly with the Regimental Staff as an Operations Officer , he was then assigned to the " 6 . Kompanie " , II . / SS - PzRgt 1 , in command of the first Platoon where he went into action during the retreat from Kharkov . Ribbentrop was wounded for the third time during these battles ; shot in the right shoulder blade and left shoulder . On 1 March 1943 , Ribbentrop succeeded SS Lieutenant Alt as commander of the " 7 . Kompanie " , and he was the " Kompaniechef " during the recapture of Kharkov . After Kharkov was captured , Ribbentrop was placed as a Regimental Adjutant . One month later he was given the responsibility of training Luftwaffe members that were sent to the LSSAH . On 15 June he returned to field command , and was appointed commander of " 6 . Kompanie " . One month later , on 20 July he was awarded the Knight ' s Cross . Western Front . On 1 August he was transferred to the newly formed 12th SS Panzer Division " Hitlerjugend " , and was charged with commanding two Junior officer training courses . Four months later he was appointed commander of the " 3 . Kompanie " , I . / SS - PzRgt 12 . On 3 June 1944 , heading back to Le Neubourg following a training excersize , his car was attacked by a Spitfire , and von Ribbentrop was wounded for the fourth time . By 9 June , he was back in command of his " Kompanie " . During the defensive battles in Normandy , Ribbentrop was awarded the German Cross in Gold , and the Panzer Assault Badge . Following the breakout from Falaise , von Ribbentrop was made the Regimental Adjutant to " SS - Panzerregiment 12 " . It was in this capacity that he saw action during " Operation Wacht Am Rhein " . On 20 December he was wounded for the fifth time with a shell fragment in his mouth . He was awarded the Wound Badge in Gold , and was given command of I . / SS - PzRgt 12 . He commanded this " Abteilung " until the Division surrendered to the Americans on 8 May 1945 .