Otto Hitzfeld
Encyclopedia
Otto Hitzfeld was a German Officer
during both World War I
and World War II
. He was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
on 9 May 1945. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
on 1 April 1936 and returned to the Kriegsschule
in Dresden
where he taught tactics and military history. He became the aide of the commander of the Kriegsschule on 10 November 1938. He was promoted to Oberstleutnant
on 1 August 1939 and became the commander of the 3rd Battalion of 158th Infantry Regiment (III./Infanterie-Regiment 158). With this battalion he participated in the Battle of France
. He received command of 593rd Infantry Regiment (Infanterie-Regiment 593) on 15 November 1940 and received both clasps of the Iron Cross
by the end of August 1941.
Hitzfeld transferred again in July 1941, this time taking command of the 213th Infantry Regiment (Infanterie-Regiment 213), which he commanded for a year on the Eastern front. He distinguished himself in the battles near Periskop and the battles on the Crimea
for which he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
on 30 October 1941. He was promoted to Oberst
on 1 January 1942 and shortly afterwards received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
on 17 January 1942. Wounded for the fifth time on 15 August 1942 near Krasnodar
, he received the Wound Badge
in Gold by the End of the War. After a period of convalescence he was tasked with the command of the 102. Infanterie-Division
.
Hitzfeld, whose nephew Ottmar Hitzfeld
is the actual manager of the Swiss football team, was promoted to Generalmajor on 1 April 1943 and officially put in command of the 102. Infanterie-Division. He was promoted to Generalleutnant early November 1943 and had to turn over command of the Division. He then took command of the infantry school in Döberitz and again turned over command on 1 November 1944. Hitzfeld was given command of the LXVII. Armeekorps, which he led in the Battle of the Bulge
. He was promoted to General der Infanterie
on 1 March 1945 and made commanding general of the LXVII. Armeekorps. He shortly became commander of the 11. Armee
in April 1945. He declared Göttingen
, which was crowded with refugees, as a free city. He was taken prisoner of war by American forces on 19 April 1945 from which was released on 12 May 1947. He received news that he had been awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
after his release from captivity.
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
during both World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and 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...
. He was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
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 9 May 1945. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Career
Hitzfeld was promoted to MajorMajor (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....
on 1 April 1936 and returned to the Kriegsschule
Kriegsschule
Kriegsschule can refer to:* Kriegsschule , military academies used by the Wehrmacht for training officers until 1945...
in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
where he taught tactics and military history. He became the aide of the commander of the Kriegsschule on 10 November 1938. He was promoted to 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...
on 1 August 1939 and became the commander of the 3rd Battalion of 158th Infantry Regiment (III./Infanterie-Regiment 158). With this battalion he participated in the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
. He received command of 593rd Infantry Regiment (Infanterie-Regiment 593) on 15 November 1940 and received both clasps of 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....
by the end of August 1941.
Hitzfeld transferred again in July 1941, this time taking command of the 213th Infantry Regiment (Infanterie-Regiment 213), which he commanded for a year on the Eastern front. He distinguished himself in the battles near Periskop and the battles on the Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
for which he received 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...
on 30 October 1941. He was promoted to 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...
on 1 January 1942 and shortly afterwards received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
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 17 January 1942. Wounded for the fifth time on 15 August 1942 near Krasnodar
Krasnodar
Krasnodar is a city in Southern Russia, located on the Kuban River about northeast of the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. It is the administrative center of Krasnodar Krai . Population: -Name:...
, he received the Wound Badge
Wound Badge
Wound Badge was a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Imperial German Army in World War I, the Reichswehr between the wars, and the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied...
in Gold by the End of the War. After a period of convalescence he was tasked with the command of the 102. Infanterie-Division
102nd Infantry Division (Germany)
-Organisation and history:The division was formed on 15 December 1940 in Wehrkreis II , in the 12th mobilisation wave, using elements of the 8th Infantry Division and the 28th Infantry Division....
.
Hitzfeld, whose nephew Ottmar Hitzfeld
Ottmar Hitzfeld
Ottmar Hitzfeld is a German former football player and manager, nicknamed der General ....
is the actual manager of the Swiss football team, was promoted to Generalmajor on 1 April 1943 and officially put in command of the 102. Infanterie-Division. He was promoted to Generalleutnant early November 1943 and had to turn over command of the Division. He then took command of the infantry school in Döberitz and again turned over command on 1 November 1944. Hitzfeld was given command of the LXVII. Armeekorps, which he led in the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
. He was promoted to General der Infanterie
General of the Infantry (Germany)
General of the Infantry is a rank of general in the Imperial Army, Reichswehr or Wehrmacht - the second-highest regular rank. The same rank spread to the Imperial Russian Army and the Defence forces of Finland between the world wars...
on 1 March 1945 and made commanding general of the LXVII. Armeekorps. He shortly became commander of the 11. Armee
11th Army (Germany)
The 11th Army was a World War I and a World War II field army.-World War I:The 11th Army was formed in early 1915. It briefly fought on the Western Front during the Battle of Ypres, holding the line against the allied attack...
in April 1945. He declared Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
, which was crowded with refugees, as a free city. He was taken prisoner of war by American forces on 19 April 1945 from which was released on 12 May 1947. He received news that he had been awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
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...
after his release from captivity.
Awards
- Badisches Militärverdienstkreuz 1. Klasse
- Romanian Medal of Bravery
- Infantry Assault BadgeInfantry Assault BadgeThe Infantry Assault Badge was a German war badge awarded to Waffen SS and Wehrmacht Heer soldiers during WWII. This decoration was instituted on December 20th 1939 by the Oberstbefehlshaber des Heeres, Generalfeldmarschall von Brauchitsch...
in Silver - Wound BadgeWound BadgeWound Badge was a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Imperial German Army in World War I, the Reichswehr between the wars, and the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied...
in Gold - 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....
(1914) 2nd and 1st Class - Clasp to the Iron CrossClasp to the Iron CrossThe Clasp to the Iron Cross was a metal medal clasp displayed on the uniforms of German Wehrmacht personnel who had been awarded the Iron Cross in World War I. It was displayed on the uniforms of many high ranking officers during World War II as most had also served in World War I...
(1939)- 2nd Class (25 August 1940)
- 1st Class (15 August 1941)
- Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and SwordsKnight'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...
- Knight's Cross on 30 October 1941 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 213
- 65th Oak Leaves on 16 January 1942 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 213
- 158th Swords on 9 May 1945 as General der Infanterie and commanding general of the LXVII. Armeekorps
- Mentioned in the WehrmachtberichtWehrmachtberichtThe Wehrmachtbericht was a daily radio report on the Großdeutscher Rundfunk of Nazi Germany, published by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht regarding the military situation on all fronts of World War II....