Fritz Weitzel
Encyclopedia
Fritz Weitzel was a German SS
Obergruppenführer
.
He became a member of Nazi Party in 1925 and of SS
in 1926. In 1930 he was promoted to leader of SS in Rheinland and Ruhr
. He became Polizeipräsident in Düsseldorf
in 1933, and Höherer SS- und Polizeiführer West in 1938. During 1939 Weitzel wrote the book Celebrations of the SS Family which described the holidays to be celebrated along with how married SS men and their familys should celebrate them. This book written by Weitzel described how the Julleuchter
should be used, which was a Yuletide gift by Himmler to the SS. Following the German invasion of Norway on 9 April 1940, Weitzel was brought to Norway on 21 April to become Höherer SS- und Polizeiführer in the country's capital, Oslo
. He would not last in this position for long, however, as he died in an aerial attack on his home town Düsseldorf during a visit there in June 1940.
Like Richard Walther Darré, Weitzel was one of the key figures concerning the cultural aspects of the SS. His efforts helped Himmler with what he called the “arteigene Kultur”, which was the recreated German pagan religion.
Schutzstaffel
The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...
Obergruppenführer
Obergruppenführer
Obergruppenführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was first created in 1932 as a rank of the SA and until 1942 it was the highest SS rank inferior only to Reichsführer-SS...
.
He became a member of Nazi Party in 1925 and of SS
Schutzstaffel
The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...
in 1926. In 1930 he was promoted to leader of SS in Rheinland and Ruhr
Ruhr
The Ruhr is a medium-size river in western Germany , a right tributary of the Rhine.-Description:The source of the Ruhr is near the town of Winterberg in the mountainous Sauerland region, at an elevation of approximately 2,200 feet...
. He became Polizeipräsident in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
in 1933, and Höherer SS- und Polizeiführer West in 1938. During 1939 Weitzel wrote the book Celebrations of the SS Family which described the holidays to be celebrated along with how married SS men and their familys should celebrate them. This book written by Weitzel described how the Julleuchter
Julleuchter
A Julleuchter or Turmleuchter , is a "small earthenware candlestick, about 4" square at the bottom, about 8" tall, and it is shaped kind of like a mountain or a tower." Modern Julleuchters have the Hagall rune and a heart symbol visible on all four sides. Other examples have an Algiz rune or a...
should be used, which was a Yuletide gift by Himmler to the SS. Following the German invasion of Norway on 9 April 1940, Weitzel was brought to Norway on 21 April to become Höherer SS- und Polizeiführer in the country's capital, Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. He would not last in this position for long, however, as he died in an aerial attack on his home town Düsseldorf during a visit there in June 1940.
Like Richard Walther Darré, Weitzel was one of the key figures concerning the cultural aspects of the SS. His efforts helped Himmler with what he called the “arteigene Kultur”, which was the recreated German pagan religion.