Prinz Ludwig Ferdinand Paul Franz Stanislaus Ulrich Otto Ludolf zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (4 April 1910 â 22 November 1943) was a highly decorated Oberst in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Ludwig-Ferdinand Prinz von Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg was killed on 22 November 1943 near Zhytomyr, Ukraine. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross on 20 January 1944 and was also promoted to Oberst.
Ludwig was the son of Richard, 4th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Princess Madeleine of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg. He had two older brothers, Gustav Albrecht who was also killed in 1944, and Christian Heinrich who died in 1983. Gustav's son Richard was married to Princess Benedikte of Denmark, sister of Queen Margrethe II and of former Queen Anne-Marie of Greece.
Ludwig Ferdinand married in 1935 Princess Friederike Juliane of Salm-Horstmar, daughter of Otto II, Prince of Salm-Horstmar (1867-1941) and Countess Rosa of Solms-Baruth (1884-1945). They had five children:
His descendants include Ludwig-Ferdinand's children Princess Anna of Bavaria, Prince August Fredrik zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, and Theodora Sayn-Wittgenstein.