Knud Børge Martinsen
| Knud Børge Martinsen | |
|---|---|
| Born | 30 November 1905 Sandved |
| Died | 25 June 1949 (aged 43) |
| Allegiance |
 Nazi Germany
|
| Service/branch |
 Waffen-SS
|
| Years of service | 1941 - 1945 |
| Rank | Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel) |
| Commands held |
Frikorps Danmark, Jun 2, 1942 - Jun 9, 1942 Frikorps Danmark, Jun 11, 1942 - May 20, 1943 |
Knud Børge Martinsen (November 30, 1905 – June 25, 1949) was a Danish officer and the third commander of Frikorps Danmark.
Knud Børge Martinsen was born in Sandved in 1905, son of tailor Hans Kristian Martinsen and wife Ottilia Marie Poulsen. He became a soldier in 1928. After only ten years of service he was an officer with a rank of Captain Lieutenant. In 1940 he was attending the general staff course on Frederiksberg Palace and was looking forward to a promising career.
The Occupation of Denmark on April 9, 1940 was a big shock to him but on April 26, 1940 he joined the Danish National Socialist Workers' Party of Denmark (DNSAP) and he took part of several demonstrations in his uniform which ended up in his military papers and prevented a further career move. He therefore resigned and joined the Waffen-SS and commanded Frikorps Danmark's 2nd company under Christian Peder Kryssing and the 4th company under Christian Frederik von Schalburg. Actually Martinsen was temporarily commander of Frikorps Danmark between Kryssing's resignation and von Schalburg's appointment.
Martinsen was again temporarily commander between von Schalburg's death and Hans Albert von Lettow-Vorbeck's appointment. When von Lettow-Vorbeck was killed only two days after his appointment, Martinsen took over as commander and remained as commander until the disbandment of Frikorps Danmark on May 20, 1943. Together with most of Frikorps Danmark he was transferred to SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 24 Danmark under 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland.
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