Bodo Zimmermann
Encyclopedia
Bodo Zimmermann was a German
general during the Second World War. He also was one of the few recipients of both German cross
es (in Gold and in Silver).
on November 1886. He began his cadet training in 1906, with the rank of Fähnrich
. He immediately joined the Royal Army of Prussia
. Zimmermann served in the 145th Infantry Regiment of the King (6. Lothringische) belonging to the 34th Infantrie-Division
, stationed in Metz since 1890. In this regiment, he was promoted Leutnant
in 1907. From 1907 to 1914 he served in the 145th Infantry Regiment as an officer of the King company with the rank of Oberleutnant
(First Lieutenant
). In 1915, shortly after the start of the First World War, he was promoted to the rank of Captain. During the war he received the Iron Cross
(Kreuz Eisernes) for his exemplary actions. Zimmermann was promoted to Major
in 1920 shortly before leaving Army.
After the First World War he ran a publishing house which specialised in military literature. This publisher produced various journals and textbooks for military training of soldiers: "Artilleristen-Fibel", "Gefechts-Fibel", "Uniform-Fibel", "Marinegeschichtsfibel", "Kriegsspiel-Fibel" or "Panzerkampfwagenbuch". Bodo Zimmermann published "Die neue Gruppe" and "Die Soldatenfibel" in 1936, "M. G. 34." in 1937, and "Die Gruppe der Schützenkompanie zu 12 Gruppen" in 1940.
Shortly before the Second World War, Zimmermann was reintegrated in the new armed forces
of Germany, the Wehrmacht
. As Major
, Zimmermann served in the High Command of the 1st Army, on the Western Front
. In October 1940, he was appointed "Generalstabsoffizier" at the headquarters of Army Group D
, under the command of Erwin von Witzleben
. Zimmermann was promoted to the rank of Oberstleutnant
(Lieutenant Colonel
) on 1 August 1941, under the command of Gerd von Rundstedt
. On 1 December 1942, Zimmermann was appointed Oberst
(Colonel
). On 15 February 1943, he received the German Cross
in Silver, for his services. When the Allies landed in Normandy in June 1944, Zimmermann initially believed it was a diversionary tactic. Then, he understood the magnitude of the Operation Overlord
and tried to influence the decision of Alfred Jodl
. In the Fall
of 1944 Zimmermann became Chef der Führungsabteilung on the western sector.
On 25 September 1944 Zimmerman received the German Cross
in gold for his actions. He is one of the few recipients to receive the two German crosses. He was promoted to the rank of Generalmajor
on 1 December 1944. On 1 May 1945, eight days before the end of the war in Europe, Zimmermann was promoted to the rank of Generalleutnant, just before going into captivity. He remained in captivity until 1947. After 1948, Zimmerman published "Geschichte des Oberbefehlshaber West" and "Ideas on the Defense of the Rhine and Western Germany as an outpost area of Western Europe". Zimmermann died in Bonn
in 1963.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
general during the Second World War. He also was one of the few recipients of both German cross
German Cross
The German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
es (in Gold and in Silver).
Biography
Bodo Zimmermann was born in MetzMetz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
on November 1886. He began his cadet training in 1906, with the rank of Fähnrich
Fähnrich
Fähnrich is a German and Austrian military rank in armed forces which translates as "Ensign" in English. The rank also exists in a few other European military organizations, often with historical ties to the German system. Examples are Sweden, Norway and Finland . The French Army has a similar...
. He immediately joined the Royal Army of Prussia
Prussian Army
The Royal Prussian Army was the army of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was vital to the development of Brandenburg-Prussia as a European power.The Prussian Army had its roots in the meager mercenary forces of Brandenburg during the Thirty Years' War...
. Zimmermann served in the 145th Infantry Regiment of the King (6. Lothringische) belonging to the 34th Infantrie-Division
34th Division (German Empire)
The 34th Division was a unit of the Prussian/German Army. It was formed on April 1, 1890, and was headquartered in Metz . The division was subordinated in peacetime to the XVI Army Corps . The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I...
, stationed in Metz since 1890. In this regiment, he was promoted Leutnant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in 1907. From 1907 to 1914 he served in the 145th Infantry Regiment as an officer of the King company with the rank of Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
(First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
). In 1915, shortly after the start of the First World War, he was promoted to the rank of Captain. During the war he received the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(Kreuz Eisernes) for his exemplary actions. Zimmermann was promoted to Major
Major (Germany)
Major is a rank of the German military which dates back to the Middle Ages.It equates to Major in the British and US Armies, and is rated OF-3 in NATO.During World War II, the SS equivalent was Sturmbannführer....
in 1920 shortly before leaving Army.
After the First World War he ran a publishing house which specialised in military literature. This publisher produced various journals and textbooks for military training of soldiers: "Artilleristen-Fibel", "Gefechts-Fibel", "Uniform-Fibel", "Marinegeschichtsfibel", "Kriegsspiel-Fibel" or "Panzerkampfwagenbuch". Bodo Zimmermann published "Die neue Gruppe" and "Die Soldatenfibel" in 1936, "M. G. 34." in 1937, and "Die Gruppe der Schützenkompanie zu 12 Gruppen" in 1940.
Shortly before the Second World War, Zimmermann was reintegrated in the new armed forces
Armed forces
The armed forces of a country are its government-sponsored defense, fighting forces, and organizations. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body, and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external aggressors. In some countries paramilitary...
of Germany, the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
. As Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
, Zimmermann served in the High Command of the 1st Army, on the Western Front
Western Front (World War II)
The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
. In October 1940, he was appointed "Generalstabsoffizier" at the headquarters of Army Group D
Army Group D
Army Group D was a German Army Group which saw action during World War II.Army Group D was formed on 26 October 1940 in France, its initial cadre coming from the disbanded Army Group C....
, under the command of Erwin von Witzleben
Erwin von Witzleben
Job-Wilhelm Georg Erdmann Erwin von Witzleben was a German army officer and in the Second World War an Army commander and a conspirator in the July 20 Plot.-Early years:...
. Zimmermann was promoted to the rank of Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
(Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
) on 1 August 1941, under the command of Gerd von Rundstedt
Gerd von Rundstedt
Karl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt was a Generalfeldmarschall of the German Army during World War II. He held some of the highest field commands in all phases of the war....
. On 1 December 1942, Zimmermann was appointed Oberst
Oberst
Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
(Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
). On 15 February 1943, he received the German Cross
German Cross
The German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Silver, for his services. When the Allies landed in Normandy in June 1944, Zimmermann initially believed it was a diversionary tactic. Then, he understood the magnitude of the Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
and tried to influence the decision of Alfred Jodl
Alfred Jodl
Alfred Josef Ferdinand Jodl was a German military commander, attaining the position of Chief of the Operations Staff of the Armed Forces High Command during World War II, acting as deputy to Wilhelm Keitel...
. In the Fall
Autumn
Autumn is one of the four temperate seasons. Autumn marks the transition from summer into winter usually in September or March when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier....
of 1944 Zimmermann became Chef der Führungsabteilung on the western sector.
On 25 September 1944 Zimmerman received the German Cross
German Cross
The German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in gold for his actions. He is one of the few recipients to receive the two German crosses. He was promoted to the rank of Generalmajor
General (Germany)
General is presently the highest rank of the German Army and Luftwaffe . It is the equivalent to the rank of Admiral in the German Navy .-Early history:...
on 1 December 1944. On 1 May 1945, eight days before the end of the war in Europe, Zimmermann was promoted to the rank of Generalleutnant, just before going into captivity. He remained in captivity until 1947. After 1948, Zimmerman published "Geschichte des Oberbefehlshaber West" and "Ideas on the Defense of the Rhine and Western Germany as an outpost area of Western Europe". Zimmermann died in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
in 1963.
Decorations
- Deutsches KreuzGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold, on 25 September 1944. - Deutsches Kreuz, in Silver, on 15 February 1943.
Sources
- Dermot Bradley, Kar-Friedrich Hildebrand, Markus Rövekamp, Die Generale des Heeres 1921 - 1945, Band 3, Osnabrück 1994
External links
- Bodo Zimmermann on lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de