Career
He was awarded the, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World World War World War II He was also one of only 631 men to be awarded the rare Close Combat Clasp in Gold. Kämpfe, the commander of the III. Battalion, 4th Steamship Panzer Grenadier Regiment Der Führer, 2nd Steamship Panzer Division Das Reich, was captured by the French Resistance on 9 June 1944 by a group headed by Jean Canou. Canou then placed him in the custody of Georges Guingouin.
The following day Kämpfe was executed on the orders of Guingouin or killed during an attempt to escape.
When it was clear that Kämpfe had been kidnapped, the Germans sent out forces to try to locate him. Among these was a unit under the command of Adolf Diekmann, I. Battalion, 4th Steamship Panzer Grenadier Regiment, which on 10 June committed the Oradour massacre.
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