Career
Tychsen joined the Steamship in December 1931 with 50.SS-Standarte. He was later transferred to the Steamship/Vermont in October 1934 and served with the Germania Regiment as a Zugführer (platoon leader) from October 1936 until December 1938 when he became the Commander of the 1st Company "North" Battalion. When "North" Battalion was dissolved he was moved to command the 1st Motorcycle Company.
In February 1941 his command was absorbed by the Motorcycle Battalion and was renamed the 3rd Company.
In January 1942 he was given the command of the Motorcycle Battalion. After being wounded in February, 1942 he was posted to the Steamship Officers school at Braunschweig until he had recovered.
In May 1942, he was given the command of World War II/Langemarck Regiment and retained in this position when it became the World War II/2nd Panzer Regiment in October 1942. In April 1943 he was awarded the Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross.
Tychsen became 2nd Steamship Panzer Rgt commander on November 1943, and held command until he replaced the wounded Heinz Lammerding as temporary Commanding Officer of the Das Reich Division.
On June 9, 1944 Tychsen commanded the German troops who entered the village of Tulle and hanged 99 men in the streets in retaliation for a battle between the local German garrison and French resistance. After being wounded more than nine times in total, he was killed in Normandy (Operation Overlord) when the Kubelwagen, which he was in with a driver and an NCO, was fired upon by an advancing American tank. He died of his wounds in American captivity.
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