Fritz Kraemer
Encyclopedia
SS-Brigadeführer
Fritz Kraemer (12 December 1900 - 23 June 1959) was a German
Waffen-SS
and Heer
officer, and a commander of the I. SS-Panzer Corps Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
and the 12.SS-Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend
. He was also a winner of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
.
in 1918 and later attended the Berlin War Academy. In 1936 he was appointed the commander of 5.Kompanie/Infanterieregiment 55 and by 1939 was reassigned to the 13. Infanterie Division (mot).
and the campaign in the west. He won the Iron Cross
second class and the Iron Cross first class on 6 October 1939 and 26 May 1940 respectively. On 11 October 1940 he was promoted to Ia (chief assistant, operations) of the 13. Infantry Division which was the same day reorganized into the 13. Panzer Division.
in Gold and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
. Although he was a Heer officer, in January 1943, Josef "Sepp" Dietrich selected Kraemer as the senior administrative officer (Ia) of the I.SS-Panzer Korps with the rank of SS-Oberführer
. Soon Dietrich realized that Fritz Kraemer was an ideal choice for this position and officially admitted him into the SS on 1 August 1944. He was given the rank of SS-Brigadeführer
.
, Krämer acted as Dietrich’s
deputy, and eventually succeeded Hubert Meyer
as commander of the 12. SS-Panzerdivision Hitlerjugend
. However, he was in charge of the division only until 13 November 1944 when he was transferred to the reserves and Hugo Kraas
assumed command of the division. For the remainder of the war, Kraemer served as a chief of staff with the 6.Panzer-Armee
and surrendered to the Americans, along with Dietrich, in May 1945. He was tried at Dachau in 1946 for the involvement in the Malmedy Massacre
and was sentenced to a ten year imprisonment. Following his release, he lived in Höxter
, Germany until his death. Kraemer was buried with full military honors.
Brigadeführer
SS-Brigadeführer was an SS rank that was used in Nazi Germany between the years of 1932 and 1945. Brigadeführer was also an SA rank....
Fritz Kraemer (12 December 1900 - 23 June 1959) 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...
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 Heer
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:...
officer, and a commander of the I. SS-Panzer Corps Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
I SS Panzer Corps
The I SS Panzer Corps Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler or I SS Panzer Corps was a German Waffen-SS panzer corps which saw action on both the Western and Eastern Fronts during World War II.-Formation and training:...
and the 12.SS-Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend
12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend
The 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend was a German Waffen SS armoured division during World War II. The Hitlerjugend was unique because the majority of its junior enlisted men were drawn from members of the Hitler Youth, while the senior NCOs and officers were generally veterans of the Eastern...
. He was also a winner of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
.
Early life - Pre-war service
Kraemer was born in Stettin. He joined the WehrmachtWehrmacht
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:...
in 1918 and later attended the Berlin War Academy. In 1936 he was appointed the commander of 5.Kompanie/Infanterieregiment 55 and by 1939 was reassigned to the 13. Infanterie Division (mot).
Early war campaigns
Kraemer distinguished himself during the invasion of PolandPoland
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...
and the campaign in the west. He won 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....
second class and the Iron Cross first class on 6 October 1939 and 26 May 1940 respectively. On 11 October 1940 he was promoted to Ia (chief assistant, operations) of the 13. Infantry Division which was the same day reorganized into the 13. Panzer Division.
War in Russia
During the operations in Russia with the 13. Panzer Division, Fritz Kraemer once again proved himself to be an excellent commander and in 1942 was awarded both the German CrossGerman 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 and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
. Although he was a Heer officer, in January 1943, Josef "Sepp" Dietrich selected Kraemer as the senior administrative officer (Ia) of the I.SS-Panzer Korps with the rank of SS-Oberführer
Oberführer
Oberführer was an early paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party dating back to 1921. Translated as “Senior Leader”, an Oberführer was typically a Nazi Party member in charge of a group of paramilitary units in a particular geographical region...
. Soon Dietrich realized that Fritz Kraemer was an ideal choice for this position and officially admitted him into the SS on 1 August 1944. He was given the rank of SS-Brigadeführer
Brigadeführer
SS-Brigadeführer was an SS rank that was used in Nazi Germany between the years of 1932 and 1945. Brigadeführer was also an SA rank....
.
Western front and postwar
During the battles in NormandyOperation 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...
, Krämer acted as Dietrich’s
Sepp Dietrich
Josef "Sepp" Dietrich was a German SS General. He was one of Nazi Germany's most decorated soldiers and commanded formations up to Army level during World War II. Prior to 1929 he was Adolf Hitler's chauffeur and bodyguard but received rapid promotion after his participation in the murder of...
deputy, and eventually succeeded Hubert Meyer
Hubert Meyer
SS-Obersturmbannführer Hubert Meyer was a German Waffen-SS officer who served with the 1.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler and was one of the commanders of the 12.SS-Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend. After the war, he became active in the veteran's association HIAG. He is the...
as commander of the 12. SS-Panzerdivision Hitlerjugend
12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend
The 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend was a German Waffen SS armoured division during World War II. The Hitlerjugend was unique because the majority of its junior enlisted men were drawn from members of the Hitler Youth, while the senior NCOs and officers were generally veterans of the Eastern...
. However, he was in charge of the division only until 13 November 1944 when he was transferred to the reserves and Hugo Kraas
Hugo Kraas
SS-Brigadeführer Hugo Kraas was a German Waffen-SS officer who served with the 1.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler and was the last commander of the 12.SS-Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend....
assumed command of the division. For the remainder of the war, Kraemer served as a chief of staff with the 6.Panzer-Armee
German Sixth SS Panzer Army
The 6th Panzer Army was a unit of Wehrmacht Heer, formed in the Autumn of 1944. The 6th Panzer Army is best noted for its leading role in the Battle of the Bulge . On 2 April 1945, it was transferred to the Waffen-SS...
and surrendered to the Americans, along with Dietrich, in May 1945. He was tried at Dachau in 1946 for the involvement in the Malmedy Massacre
Malmedy massacre trial
The Malmedy massacre trial was held in May–July 1946 in the Dachau concentration camp to try the German Waffen-SS soldiers accused of the Malmedy massacre of December 17, 1944. The highest-ranking defendant was the former SS general, Sepp Dietrich...
and was sentenced to a ten year imprisonment. Following his release, he lived in Höxter
Höxter
Höxter is the seat of the Höxter district, and a town in eastern North Rhine-Westphalia on the left bank of the river Weser, 52 km north of Kassel in the centre of the Weser Uplands...
, Germany until his death. Kraemer was buried with full military honors.
Dates of rank
- OberleutnantOberleutnantOberleutnant 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...
: 1 October 1934 - HauptmannHauptmannHauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
: ? - MajorMajorMajor 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. ...
: ? - OberstleutnantOberstleutnantOberstleutnant 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...
: 1 April 1942 - OberstOberstOberst 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...
: 1 January 1943 - SS-OberführerOberführerOberführer was an early paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party dating back to 1921. Translated as “Senior Leader”, an Oberführer was typically a Nazi Party member in charge of a group of paramilitary units in a particular geographical region...
: 1 September 1943 - SS-BrigadeführerBrigadeführerSS-Brigadeführer was an SS rank that was used in Nazi Germany between the years of 1932 and 1945. Brigadeführer was also an SA rank....
: 1 August 1944
Notable decorations
- German CrossGerman 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 (1942) - Eastern Front MedalEastern Front MedalThe Eastern Front Medal, , more commonly known as the Ostmedaille was instituted on May 26, 1942 to mark service on the German Eastern Front during the period November 15, 1941 to April 15, 1942...
(1942) - Iron CrossIron CrossThe 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....
Second (1939) and First (1940) Classes - Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
(1942) - Oak LeavesKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
(1945) - SS-Honour Ring (?)
- Panzer BadgePanzer BadgeThe Panzer Badge was a German medal awarded to armour troops during World War II. It was introduced during World War II in December 1939 .- History :The Tank Combat Badge, or Panzer Badge, first existed in the German Army during World War I, and was later...
(?)