| abstract | - Franz Kleffner was an Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel) in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. This was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II. Franz Kleffner was born on the 2 July 1907 at Altena. He was one of the early members of the SS joining in December 1930 (SS service number 7.939). He was selected to become an office and promoted to Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) in April 1935 and Hauptsturmführer (Captain) by the start of World War II, when he was given command of the 13th Company, SS Totenkopf Infantry Regiment in the newly formed SS Totenkopf Division. He was awarded the Knight's Cross, while in command of the SS Motorcycle Battalion, SS Totenkopf in February 1942, while fighting on the Eastern Front during Operation Barbarossa. In early February, the Soviets captured Bjakowo, cutting off the Totenkopf, from the main German force, II. Armeekorps, encircled around Demyansk. Sturmbannführer Franz Kleffner took over the command at Bjakowo and on February 19, he led the survivors in an assault which resulted in a breakthrough to the main force, an action for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross on 21 February. He was killed on 16 March 1945 during the Soviet offensive north of Lake Velence in Hungary when the armoured personnel carrier he was travelling in was hit by a Soviet shell.
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