Carl Friedrich von Pückler-Burghauss
Encyclopedia
Carl Friedrich Count of Pückler-Burghauss, Baron of Groditz (b. October 7, 1886 in Friedland
, Silesia
(now Korfantów in Poland
) d. 13 May 1945 in Čimelice
, Bohemia
, today's Czech Republic
) was a German
politician
and Waffen-SS
officer in the rank of SS-Gruppenführer
and Lieutenant General
of the Waffen-SS
and member of the German parliament
during the Weimar Republic
and also a writer, publishing works on hunting and travel.
Pückler-Burghauss began his military career as a second lieutenant in the infantry branch during the First World War and won the Iron Cross First and Second Classes. He left the army in 1919 as captain and served with Freikorps
units until 1931 when he joined the Nazi Party and the SA and later SS.
Pückler-Burghauss was member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party und Officer of the Waffen-SS
. Through year 1943 he was a commander of 15th Waffen-SS division
on Eastern front
and later was a chief of Waffen-SS
units in Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
.
After Nazi Germany capitulated on May 7, 1945 Pückler-Burghauss refused to surrender to the Soviets and attempted to move the troops under his command into the American occupation zone. The Americans had refused and after heavy fighting (see Battle of Slivice
) he was forced to sign capitulation on the night of May 11/12. Shortly afterwards he committed suicide.
(1886–1955), the elder daughter of Prince Albert of Saxe-Altenburg and Princess Marie of Prussia
, a great-niece of the German Emperor Wilhelm I. Princess Olga was closely related to the British
and Swedish
royal families via her maternal aunt, Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia who married Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
, the youngest son of Queen Victoria. Her cousin was Princess Margaret, Crown Princess of Sweden
.
Korfantów
Korfantów is a town in the Opole Voivodeship of Poland. It has a population of approximately 1,860 inhabitants. It is named after Wojciech Korfanty....
, Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
(now Korfantów in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
) d. 13 May 1945 in Čimelice
Cimelice
Čimelice is a bigger village on the north of Písek District, on the way which connecting South Bohemia with Prague and which is widely known as "R4" or "Strakonická" ....
, Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, today's Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
) was a German
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
officer in the rank of SS-Gruppenführer
Gruppenführer
Gruppenführer was an early paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party, first created in 1925 as a senior rank of the SA.-SS rank:...
and Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
of the Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
and member of the German parliament
Reichstag (Weimar Republic)
The Reichstag was the parliament of Weimar Republic .German constitution commentators consider only the Reichstag and now the Bundestag the German parliament. Another organ deals with legislation too: in 1867-1918 the Bundesrat, in 1919–1933 the Reichsrat and from 1949 on the Bundesrat...
during the Weimar Republic
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
and also a writer, publishing works on hunting and travel.
Pückler-Burghauss began his military career as a second lieutenant in the infantry branch during the First World War and won the Iron Cross First and Second Classes. He left the army in 1919 as captain and served with Freikorps
Freikorps
Freikorps are German volunteer military or paramilitary units. The term was originally applied to voluntary armies formed in German lands from the middle of the 18th century onwards. Between World War I and World War II the term was also used for the paramilitary organizations that arose during...
units until 1931 when he joined the Nazi Party and the SA and later SS.
Pückler-Burghauss was member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party und Officer of the Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
. Through year 1943 he was a commander of 15th Waffen-SS division
15th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Latvian)
The 15th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS was formed in the Waffen SS's drive for manpower in the wake of Operation Barbarossa; Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941...
on Eastern front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
and later was a chief of Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
units in Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia was the majority ethnic-Czech protectorate which Nazi Germany established in the central parts of Bohemia, Moravia and Czech Silesia in what is today the Czech Republic...
.
After Nazi Germany capitulated on May 7, 1945 Pückler-Burghauss refused to surrender to the Soviets and attempted to move the troops under his command into the American occupation zone. The Americans had refused and after heavy fighting (see Battle of Slivice
Battle of Slivice
The Battle of Slivice was the last large World War II battle in the area of Czech lands. During 11–12 May 1945, German troops defended themselves against the partisans and the Soviet Army. The Germans eventually capitulated during early hours of May 12...
) he was forced to sign capitulation on the night of May 11/12. Shortly afterwards he committed suicide.
Personal life
On 20 May 1913, Pückler-Burghauss married Princess Olga Elisabeth of Saxe-AltenburgSaxe-Altenburg
Saxe-Altenburg was one of the Saxon duchies held by the Ernestine branch of the Wettin dynasty in present-day Thuringia.-History:The duchy originated from the medieval Burgraviate of Altenburg in the Imperial Pleissnerland , a possession of the Wettin Margraves of Meissen since 1243...
(1886–1955), the elder daughter of Prince Albert of Saxe-Altenburg and Princess Marie of Prussia
Princess Marie of Prussia (1855-1888)
Princess Marie of Prussia, full name Marie Elisabeth Louise Frederika of Prussia , was a princess of the house of Hohenzollern. She was the daughter of Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia and later became second wife of Prince Henry of the Netherlands then the first wife of Prince Albert of...
, a great-niece of the German Emperor Wilhelm I. Princess Olga was closely related to the British
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
and Swedish
Swedish Royal Family
The Swedish Royal Family since 1818 consists of a number of persons in the Swedish Royal House of Bernadotte, closely related to the King of Sweden. They are entitled to royal titles and style , and some perform official engagements and ceremonial duties of state...
royal families via her maternal aunt, Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia who married Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn was a member of the shared British and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha royal family who served as the Governor General of Canada, the 10th since Canadian Confederation.Born the seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and...
, the youngest son of Queen Victoria. Her cousin was Princess Margaret, Crown Princess of Sweden
Princess Margaret of Connaught
Princess Margaret of Connaught was the daughter of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, third son of Queen Victoria, and his wife, Princess Luise Margarete of Prussia...
.
Works
- Jagen, Reisen, lustig sein: Aus grünem Wald und buntem Leben, Berlin 1936.
- Wild, Wald und Welt: Ein fröhliches Wanderbuch, Berlin 1938.
- Gesehen, gedacht und gelacht: Erinnerungen aus den Feldzügen 1939-42, Prag 1943.