
Knud Borge Martinsen (30 November 1905 – 25 June 1949) was the commander of Free Corps Denmark from 11 June 1942 to 21 March 1943, succeeding Hans von Lettow-Vorbeck.
Biography[]
Knud Borge Martinsen was born in Sandved, Denmark on 30 November 1905, and he joined the Royal Danish Army in 1928. In 1940, he attended a general staff course at Frederiksberg Palace, and he joined the National Socialist Workers' Party of Denmark on 26 April 1940 after the German occupation of Denmark during World War II. Martinsen joined the Waffen-SS and became a company commander of Free Corps Denmark, rising to become the commander of the corps after its commander, Hans von Lettow-Vorbeck, was killed in action by the Red Army. Martinsen remained with the free corps until it was disbanded in 1943, and he joined the 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland. He later helped with founding the Schalburg Corps, and he was arrested for murdering a fellow corps member for allegedly having an affair with his wife. On 25 June 1949, he was executed by firing squad for his crimes.