German Armored Forces & Vehicles

Christian Tychsen.

Christian Tychsen as SS-Sturmbannfuhrer, in Panzer black uniform (? Spring, 1944). Visible decorations include Iron Cross, First Class, Wound Badge (?Gold) and German Cross in Gold. He was awarded the Knights Cross in April, 1943, but I cannot see one here. His "trade mark" scarring of the chin is quite visible, even in this small, low-resolution snap. Tychsen commanded 2nd SS Panzer Regiment (2nd SS Panzer Division, "Das Reich") from November, 1943, and enjoyed temporary command of "Das Reich" for four days (in succession to Heinz Lammerding) in Normandy. He enjoyed (if that is the word) a reputation for fearlessness (perhaps recklessness) that was not always appreciated by his subordinates. Obersturmfuhrer Fritz Langanke (RKT) described an occasion, early in the Normandy campaign, on which Tychsen insisted on officers disembarking from their Panthers to receive orders - notwithstanding the fact that the area was under enemy fire. Hardly surprising, then, that he was wounded some ten times during the war - a record not very often survived. Four days after his appointment to temporary command of "Das Reich", his luck ran out. On 28 July, 1944, his Kublewagen, in which he was accompanied by a driver and one other person, became involved in what has been described as a "firefight" ... with an American Sherman tank. Tychsen was, once again, wounded in this one-sided fight, this time fatally. He died of his wounds in American medical care. His body was so thoroughly plundered of any identifying features (uniform, medals, documents) by "souvenir hunters" that he ended up buried as an "unknown soldier". His body was later identified by forensic examination. Best regards, JR.