Günther Anhalt
Encyclopedia
Günther Anhalt was a high-ranking German
officer in the Waffen-SS
(military wing of the Schutzstaffel) during World War II
. An early officer in the SS, he was possibly involved in the Wormhoudt massacre
in 1940.
for three months of military training on July 27, 1934, and was assigned to the 2nd training company under SS-Hauptsturmführer
Sator. On October 17, 1934 he was promoted to SS-Hauptscharführer
of the 7th Company of the newly renamed Leibstandarte SS "Adolf Hitler", (LSSAH).
on April 10, 1935, and to SS-Obersturmführer
on November 9, 1936, taking command of the 7th Company. On May 22, 1939, the 7th Company was the military honor guard for the meeting of Italy's Count Ciano and Germany's foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop
in Berlin for the signing of the German Italian friendship and alliance pact, the Pact of Steel
.
On August 28, 1939, Anhalt became the platoon leader of the 5th Company of the LSSAH, under battalion commander Wilhelm Mohnke. Anhalt went to war against Poland with this company, where he was wounded, together with his commander Mohnke, on September 7, 1939.
His next promotion came on January 30, 1940, when he was promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer
, and on May 10, 1940, Anhalt ascended to the command of the 6th Company. During this time, it is possible that his company was involved in the Wormhoudt massacre
, a war crime in which eighty British POW's were killed in retaliation for the supposed death of Sepp Dietrich
. On April 6, 1941, he was given command of the 1st Engineer Company of Leibstandarte "Adolf Hitler".
On July 9, 1941, Anhalt took over the IV Battalion after the invasion of Russia, and was then promoted again on September 1, 1941, to SS-Sturmbannführer
. On July 5, 1942, the LSSAH was transformed into a motorized division (Grenadier), and Anhalt was given command of the III Battalion of the infantry regiment (mot.) 2 LSSAH.
Anhalt was next transferred to the SS Military Police and promoted to SS-Obersturmbannführer
on November 22, 1943. He took command of the 2nd Regiment "combat team from Gottberg". On July 1, 1944 Anhalt was transferred and promoted to SS-Standartenführer
, the highest possible field officer rank, becoming the commander of the SS police brigade "Anhalt". For his part in the distinguished fighting on the Russian front
, Anhalt received the Knight's Cross
on August 12, 1944.
, where he was killed on April 27, 1945.
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
officer in 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...
(military wing of the Schutzstaffel) during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. An early officer in the SS, he was possibly involved in the Wormhoudt massacre
Wormhoudt massacre
The Wormhoudt massacre was the mass murder of 80 British and French POWs by the Waffen SS during the Battle of France in May 1940.-Fighting:...
in 1940.
Early career
Anhalt was born in Breslau (Wrocław), Prussian Silesia. He joined the Nazi Party (NSDAP) on July 1, 1932, and in 1933 he was one of the first soldiers to join the SS Stabswache "Berlin", 240 hand-picked men forming a bodyguard division for the NSDAP. He was sent to JüterbogJüterbog
Jüterbog is a historic town in north-eastern Germany, located in the Teltow-Fläming district of Brandenburg. It is located on the Nuthe river at the northern slope of the Fläming hill range, about southwest of Berlin.-History:...
for three months of military training on July 27, 1934, and was assigned to the 2nd training company under SS-Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...
Sator. On October 17, 1934 he was promoted to SS-Hauptscharführer
Hauptscharführer
Hauptscharführer was a Nazi paramilitary rank which was used by the Schutzstaffel between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank was the highest enlisted rank of the SS, with the exception of the special Waffen-SS rank of Sturmscharführer....
of the 7th Company of the newly renamed Leibstandarte SS "Adolf Hitler", (LSSAH).
Rapid rise
Anhalt was promoted to SS-UntersturmführerUntersturmführer
Untersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the German Schutzstaffel first created in July 1934. The rank can trace its origins to the older SA rank of Sturmführer which had existed since the founding of the SA in 1921...
on April 10, 1935, and to SS-Obersturmführer
Obersturmführer
Obersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi party that was used by the SS and also as a rank of the SA. Translated as “Senior Assault Leader”, the rank of Obersturmführer was first created in 1932 as the result of an expansion of the Sturmabteilung and the need for an additional rank in...
on November 9, 1936, taking command of the 7th Company. On May 22, 1939, the 7th Company was the military honor guard for the meeting of Italy's Count Ciano and Germany's foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop
Joachim von Ribbentrop
Ulrich Friedrich Wilhelm Joachim von Ribbentrop was Foreign Minister of Germany from 1938 until 1945. He was later hanged for war crimes after the Nuremberg Trials.-Early life:...
in Berlin for the signing of the German Italian friendship and alliance pact, the Pact of Steel
Pact of Steel
The Pact of Steel , known formally as the Pact of Friendship and Alliance between Germany and Italy, was an agreement between Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany signed on May 22, 1939, by the foreign ministers of each country and witnessed by Count Galeazzo Ciano for Italy and Joachim von Ribbentrop...
.
On August 28, 1939, Anhalt became the platoon leader of the 5th Company of the LSSAH, under battalion commander Wilhelm Mohnke. Anhalt went to war against Poland with this company, where he was wounded, together with his commander Mohnke, on September 7, 1939.
His next promotion came on January 30, 1940, when he was promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...
, and on May 10, 1940, Anhalt ascended to the command of the 6th Company. During this time, it is possible that his company was involved in the Wormhoudt massacre
Wormhoudt massacre
The Wormhoudt massacre was the mass murder of 80 British and French POWs by the Waffen SS during the Battle of France in May 1940.-Fighting:...
, a war crime in which eighty British POW's were killed in retaliation for the supposed death of Sepp Dietrich
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...
. On April 6, 1941, he was given command of the 1st Engineer Company of Leibstandarte "Adolf Hitler".
On July 9, 1941, Anhalt took over the IV Battalion after the invasion of Russia, and was then promoted again on September 1, 1941, to SS-Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party equivalent to major, used both in the Sturmabteilung and the Schutzstaffel...
. On July 5, 1942, the LSSAH was transformed into a motorized division (Grenadier), and Anhalt was given command of the III Battalion of the infantry regiment (mot.) 2 LSSAH.
Anhalt was next transferred to the SS Military Police and promoted to SS-Obersturmbannführer
Obersturmbannführer
Obersturmbannführer was a paramilitary Nazi Party rank used by both the SA and the SS. It was created in May 1933 to fill the need for an additional field grade officer rank above Sturmbannführer as the SA expanded. It became an SS rank at the same time...
on November 22, 1943. He took command of the 2nd Regiment "combat team from Gottberg". On July 1, 1944 Anhalt was transferred and promoted to SS-Standartenführer
Standartenführer
Standartenführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was used in the so-called Nazi combat-organisations: SA, SS, NSKK and the NSFK...
, the highest possible field officer rank, becoming the commander of the SS police brigade "Anhalt". For his part in the distinguished fighting on the Russian 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...
, Anhalt received the Knight's 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...
on August 12, 1944.
Final Days
On November 13, 1944, Anhalt took over the post of commander of the Weapon Infantry Regiment S (Bulgarian No. 1), to become the highest-ranked member of the SS Military Police, then was promoted on January 26, 1945, to take command of the SS regiment Freiwilligen infantry regiment 87. In March 1945, he took command of the SS police regiment 98, which fought in the Battle of BerlinBattle of Berlin
The Battle of Berlin, designated the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation by the Soviet Union, was the final major offensive of the European Theatre of World War II....
, where he was killed on April 27, 1945.