Jakob Grimminger

Jakob Grimminger
Birth date	April 25, 1892(1892-04-25)
Place of birth	Augsburg, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire
Death date	January 28, 1969 (aged 76)
Place of death	Munich, Bavaria, Germany
Allegiance	German Empire National Socialist Germany
Service/branch	Royal Bavarian Army Imperial German Army Sturmabteilung Schutzstaffel (1926–45)
Rank	SS-Standartenführer
Battles/wars	World War I Gallipoli Campaign World War II Home Front

Jakob Grimminger (25 April 1892 – 28 January 1969) was a member of the Schutzstaffel () who was famous for carrying the Blutfahne (Blood Flag bearer), the ceremonial national socialist flag.

Life

Oberster SA-Führer and SS Member # 1 Adolf Hitler at SA Parade Nuremberg September 1935; SA at the left; SS-Sturmbannführer Jakob Grimminger is standing behind car, his hand always close to the Blutfahne.

Grimminger was born in Augsburg, Bavaria and entered the Bavarian Army (1908–1914) when he was sixteen years old. He served during World War I as a mechanic in an air regiment from 1914 and 1917. He fought in the Gallipoli Campaign. He also served a year in Palestine, after which he returned to Germany. Having been awarded the Iron Cross (second class), Bavarian medals and the Turkish Iron Crescent, he was discharged from the military in 1919.

Post WWI

Working as a tallist, Grimminger joined the National socialist Party (NSDAP) in 1922 and became a member of the Stoßtrupp „Adolf Hitler“, predecessor of the Sturmabteilung (SA). He took part in the fights for Coburg in 1922 and the Munich Hitler-Ludendorff Putsch of 9 November 1923.

After serving in the Braunes Haus, the general headquarters of the NSDAP, he was selected in 1926 to become a member of the Schutzstaffel (SS). He was promoted many times during his service in the SA and the SS, eventually reaching the rank of SS-Standartenführer (equivalent to Colonel). As a member of the SS, he was given the honour of carrying the blood-stained Blutfahne from the Munich putsch.

Post-WWII

Grimminger survived World War II, and was put on trial by the Allies in 1946 for being a member of the SS and carrying the Blutfahne for nineteen years. He was not sent to prison for this – but all of his property was confiscated. In later life, he reportedly attempted to enter politics, and served as a city counselor (Stadtrat) in Munich; however his past prevented him from continuing this career. In the 1960s he walked away from public life.

Death

Jakob Grimminger died in 1969, in Munich, Germany (then West Germany).

Promotions

SS

• 25 February 1926 SS-Mann
• September 1926 SS-Scharführer
• March 1929 SS-Truppführer
• 17 July 1931 SS-Sturmführer (with effect from 11 July 1931)
• 31 July 1933 SS-Obersturmführer
• 15 November 1933 SS-Sturmhauptführer (with effect from 9 November 1933)
• 20 April 1935 SS-Sturmbannführer
• 13 September 1936 SS-Obersturmbannführer
• 13 April 1943 SS-Standartenführer (with effect from 20 April 1943)

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914), 2nd Class
• Gallipoli Star (Eiserner Halbmond; TH)
• Coburg Badge (Koburger Ehrenzeichen) on 15 October 1932
• Blood Order (714th award), 1933
• Golden Party Badge
• Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
• Gold Hounor Badge of the National Socialist War Victim's Care (NSKOV)
• Anschluss Medal
• Sudetenland Medal with the Prague Castle Clasp
• Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS on 5 Juni 1939
• SS Honour Dagger
• SS Long Service Award (SS-Dienstauszeichnung)
• War Merit Cross (1939), 2nd Class
• Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP, III. Stufe in Gold (Party Long Service Award in Gold for 25 years)