Wilhelm Bittrich

Wilhelm Bittrich
Wilhelm Bittrich
Nickname(s)	Willi
Born	26 February 1894 Wernigerode, Province of Saxony, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died	19 April 1979 (aged 85) Wolfratshausen, Bavaria, West Germany
Buried at	Münsing
Allegiance	German Empire  Weimar Republic  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Imperial German Army Luftstreitkräfte Reichswehr Waffen SS
Years of service	1914–45
Rank	SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS
Service number	NSDAP #829,700 SS #39,177
Unit	Jagdstaffel 37 Freikorps "von Hülsen"
Battles/wars	See battles  World War I Western Front Italian Front World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Eastern Front Operation Market Garden Battle of the Bulge
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords

Wilhelm Bittrich (26 February 1894 – 19 April 1979) was an SS-Obergruppenführer in the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, although no record of the award could be found in the German archives due to the irregular nature of its presentation.

Between August 1942 and February 1943, Bittrich commanded 8th SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer, that was tasked with anti-partisan operations (Bandenbekämfung, literally "bandit fighting") in the Soviet Union. Following the war, he was the chairman of HIAG, a revisionist organization and a lobby group of former Waffen-SS members.

Early life and career

Bittrich was born on 26 February 1894 in Wernigerode, at the time in the Province of Saxony of the Kingdom of Prussia. He was the son of Hugo Bittrich, a clerk and later travelling salesman. Bittrich grew up living with his uncle who was a forester. Following graduation from a Volksschule and Mittelschule, he volunteered for military service after the outbreak of World War I.^[1] On 30 July 1914, Bittrich joined the Magdeburgisches Jäger-Battaillon Nr. 4 (4th Magdeburg Rifle Battalion) in Naumburg.^[2] From 10 September 1914, he served with Reserve-Jäger-Bataillon 19, Jäger-Battaillon 8 and Infanterie-Regiment 77. With these units he fought on the Western and Italian Front and was awarded both classes of the Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz).^[1][2] On 15 October 1915, Bittrich was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant).^[3]

In 1917, Bittrich transferred to the Luftstreitkräfte and was trained as a pilot. He served with Feldflieger-Abteilung 27, Flieger-Abteilung A 266 and Jagdstaffel 37. From 15 March to July 1919, Bittrich served in the Freikorps under the General Bernhard von Hülsen during the German Revolution of 1918–19. From March to June 1920, Bittrich served in the Schutz-Regiment "Groß-Berlin" (Protection Regiment of Greater Berlin). On 1 January 1923, Bittrich was accepted into the Reichswehr of the Weimar Republic as a Leutnant. There he served as a flight instructor at the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule (DVS—German Air Transport School) at Schleißheim. For five years, he then worked as an instructor at the Lipetsk fighter-pilot school in the Soviet Union, officially he was assigned to the Reichswehr-Bataillon "Berlin". From 1930 to 1932, Bittrich worked as a civil employee for the Reichswehr.^[2]

On 1 December 1931, Bittrich joined the Nazi Party (NSDAP) (Nr. 829,700).^{[1][4][5][Note 1]} From March until June 1932, he served in the Sturmabteilung (SA) and on 1 July 1932 became an SS-Anwärter (candidate) with the SS-Fliegerstaffel Ost (Flying Squadron East). On 15 July 1932, Bittrich joined the Schutzstaffel (SS) (Nr. 39,177).^[2][4]

World War II

Between August 1942 and February 1943, Bittrich commanded 8th SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer, that was tasked with anti-partisan operations (Bandenbekämfung) in the Soviet Union. On 9 July 1942 Bittrich attended a conference called to convey the principles of the Bandenbekämfung to senior police and security leaders. Organized by Heinrich Himmler, the conference included Kurt Daluege, Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski, Odilo Globocnik, Bruno Streckenbach and others. The policies included collective punishment against villages suspected of supporting partisans, automatic death penalty for immediate families of suspected partisans, deportation of women and children, and confiscation of property for the state.^[6]

Wilhelm Bittrich (far right) at the quarry at Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp during tour with Heinrich Himmler (center) and other SS officers, June 1941.

Conviction for war crimes

After his arrest on 8 May 1945 he was extradited to France on charges of having ordered the execution of 17 members of the Resistance in Nîmes. The trial revealed that Bittrich had not given such an order and had even opened procedures against the responsible officers. As the commander in charge of the culprits, he was held responsible for the misconduct of his subordinate troops and sentenced to five years in prison. The sentence was considered as served after a long pretrial detention. He was put on trial for a second time in 1953 and sentenced to five years in prison for countenancing hangings, pillage and arson,^[7] but was acquitted by the French court in Bordeaux again and released in 1954.^[8]

Activities within HIAG

Around 1957, Bittrich became active in HIAG, a revisionist organization of former Waffen-SS members. In the 1970s, he served as the organization's chairman.^[9]

In media

• In the 1977 film A Bridge Too Far, Bittrich was played by Maximilian Schell.

Summary of SS career

Decorations

• Iron Cross of 1914, Second and First Class
• Luftstreitkräfte World War I Pilot Badge (Preußisches Militär-Flugzeugführer-Abzeichen)
• Wound Badge (1918) in Black
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (1934)
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (25 September 1939)^[10]
  • 1st Class (7 June 1940)^[10]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
  • Knight's Cross on 14 December 1941 as SS-Oberführer and commander of SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Deutschland"^{[11][12][13][Note 2]}
  • 563rd Oak Leaves on 28 August 1944 as SS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SS, and commanding general of the II. SS-Panzerkorps^{[11][14][15][16]}
  • (153rd) Swords on 6 May 1945 as SS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SS, and commanding general of the II. SS-Panzerkorps^{[14][17][18][Note 3]}
• German Cross in Gold on 6 March 1943 as SS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Reserves in the 8. SS-Kavallerie-Division "Florian Geyer"^[20]
• Mentioning by name in the Wehrmachtbericht on 27 September 1944

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
27 September 1944	In Raum Arnheim wurde am 26. September der letzte Widerstand der eingeschlossenen 1. Englischen Luftlandedivision gebrochen. In zehntägigen erbitterten Kämpfen gelang es damit den schnell zusammengerafften Kräften aller Wehrmachtteile unter Führung des Kommandierenden Generals eines SS-Panzerkorps, SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Bittrich, eine englische Elitedivision trotz zähester Gegenwehr und Verstärkung durch weitere Landung aus der Luft restlos zu vernichten.[21]	On 26 September, in the vicinity of Arnhem, the last resistance of the trapped 1st English Airborne Division was broken. In ten days of fierce fighting, the quickly assembled forces of all Armed Forces, led by the Commanding General of a SS Panzer Corps, SS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen SS Bittrich, completely annihilated an English Elite Division despite toughest resistance and reinforcement by further air landings.

Promotions

15 October 1915:	Leutnant (second lieutenant)[3]
1 July 1932:	SS-Anwärter
15 July 1932:	SS-Mann
10 September 1932:	SS-Oberscharführer[3]
31 October 1932:	SS-Sturmführer[3]
12 April 1934:	SS-Obersturmführer[3]
17 June 1934:	SS-Hauptsturmführer[3]
1 October 1936:	SS-Sturmbannführer[3]
30 January 1938:	SS-Obersturmbannführer[3]
1 June 1939:	SS-Standartenführer[3]
1 September 1940:	SS-Oberführer[3]
19 October 1941:	SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS[3]
1 May 1943:	SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS[3]
1 August 1944:	SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS[3]

Notes

1. According to Stockert, Bittrich joined the NSDAP in 1932.^[1] According to Westemeier, je joined in 1931.^[5]
2. According to Krätschmer as commander of SS-Regiment "Deutschland" of the SS-Division "Das Reich".^[14]
3. No evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. The award was unlawfully presented by SS-Oberstgruppenführer Sepp Dietrich. The date is taken from the announcement made by the 6. SS-Panzerarmee. The sequential number "153" was assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR). Bittrich was member of the AKCR.^[19]

References

Citations

1. Stockert 2012, p. 227.
2. Thomas & Wegmann 1992, p. 85.
3. Thomas & Wegmann 1992, p. 87.
4. Ailsby 1997, p. 16.
5. Westemeier 2013, p. 137.
6. Blood 2006, p. 75.
7. New York Times, June 24, 1953:6:6
8. Berger 1999, p. 34.
9. Chairoff 1977, p. 460.
10. Thomas 1997, p. 47.
11. Scherzer 2007, p. 224.
12. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 134.
13. Von Seemen 1976, p. 86.
14. Krätschmer 1999, p. 221.
15. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 87.
16. Von Seemen 1976, p. 48.
17. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 48.
18. Von Seemen 1976, p. 20.
19. Scherzer 2007, p. 121.
20. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 44.
21. The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 3, p. 262.

Bibliography

• Ailsby, Christopher (1997). SS: Roll of Infamy. London, UK: Brown Books. ISBN 978-1-897884-22-5.
• Berger, Florian (1999). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges [With Oak Leaves and Swords. The Highest Decorated Soldiers of the Second World War] (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-0-6.
• Blood, Phillip W. (2006). Hitler's Bandit Hunters: The SS and the Nazi Occupation of Europe. Potomac Books. ISBN 978-1-59797-021-1.
• Chairoff, Patrice (1977). Dossier Néo-nazisme (in French). Ramsay. ISBN 978-2-85956-030-0.
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Krätschmer, Ernst-Günther (1999). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Waffen-SS [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Waffen-SS]. Coburg, Germany: Nation Europa Verlag. ISBN 978-3-920677-43-9.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Stockert, Peter (2012). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 6 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 6] (in German) (3rd ed.). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. OCLC 76072662.
• Thomas, Franz; Wegmann, Günter (1992). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil III: Infanterie Band 2: Bi–Bo [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part III: Infantry Volume 2: Bi–Bo] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-1734-3.
• Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.
• Von Seemen, Gerhard (1976). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 : die Ritterkreuzträger sämtlicher Wehrmachtteile, Brillanten-, Schwerter- und Eichenlaubträger in der Reihenfolge der Verleihung : Anhang mit Verleihungsbestimmungen und weiteren Angaben [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 : The Knight's Cross Bearers of All the Armed Services, Diamonds, Swords and Oak Leaves Bearers in the Order of Presentation: Appendix with Further Information and Presentation Requirements] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7909-0051-4.
• Westemeier, Jens (2013). Himmlers Krieger: Joachim Peiper und die Waffen-SS in Krieg und Nachkriegszeit [Himmler's Warriors: Joachim Peiper and the Waffen-SS during the War and Post-War Period]. Paderborn, Germany: Ferdinand Schöningh. ISBN 978-3-506-77241-1.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 3, 1 January 1944 to 9 May 1945] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.

Further reading

• Hohne, Heinz (1966): The Order of the Death's Head. Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-139012-3
• Kershaw, Robert J. (1994): It never snows in September. Ian Allen Ltd. ISBN 0-7818-0287-3.
• Mühleisen, Horst (2000). Wilhelm Bittrich. Paderborn: Ronald Smelser / Enrico Syring (Hrsg.): Die SS, Elite unter dem Totenkopf. ISBN 3-506-78562-1
• Ryan, Cornelius (1974): A Bridge too Far. Coronet Books/Hodder and Stoughton. ISBN 0-340-19941-5.
• Militärgeschichtliches Forschungsamt der Bundeswehr (Hrsg.): Das Deutsche Reich und der Zweite Weltkrieg. 10 Bände. Stuttgart 1991-2005.

External links

• 1957 CIA document on Bittrich, released under FOIA