Rudolf Weiss
Encyclopedia
Rudolf Weiß was a German officer, and one of the last residents of the Führerbunker
.
at 1931, and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in 1934. In November 1938, he was assigned to the Army High Command
's personnel department
, and promoted to Captain during 1940. In 1941, he was transferred to the 1st Panzer Division as an adjutant. From April 1942, he served in the General Army Office (Allgemeines Heeresamt) as a motorization officer, receiving the rank of a Major on June. On 2 October, he was appointed the personal adjutant for the Army's Personnel Department chief, a position he held until the end of the Second World War. As such, he served under General Rudolf Schmundt
. On 1 April 1944, Weiß was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. On 20 July 1944, Schmundt was severely wounded in the attempt on Adolf Hitler's life, and was replaced by his deputy, Wilhelm Burgdorf
. Burgdorf officially became the department's chief after his predecessor's death on 1 October.
, Weiß was present in the Führerbunker. On 29 April 1945, Major Bernd Freytag von Loringhoven
and Rittmeister
Gerhardt Boldt
requested General Hans Krebs
' permission to join the fighting outside. Krebs consulted with Burgdorf, who answered that they should better take Weiß with them. Hitler allowed them to leave the bunker, and told them: "Send my regards for Wenck
. He should make haste, before it is too late."
Weiß was separated from the other two and captured by the Red Army
, and subsequently spent five years in a prisoner-of-war camp in Poland. He died in 1958.
Führerbunker
The Führerbunker was located beneath Hitler's New Reich Chancellery in Berlin, Germany. It was part of a subterranean bunker complex which was constructed in two major phases, one part in 1936 and the other in 1943...
.
Military career
Weiß joined the ReichswehrReichswehr
The Reichswehr formed the military organisation of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when it was renamed the Wehrmacht ....
at 1931, and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in 1934. In November 1938, he was assigned to the Army High Command
Oberkommando des Heeres
The Oberkommando des Heeres was Nazi Germany's High Command of the Army from 1936 to 1945. The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht commanded OKH only in theory...
's personnel department
Heerespersonalamt
The Heeres Personal Amt, Heerespersonalamt or Heeres Personalamt, is a German military agency formed in 1920 and charged with the personnel matters of all officers and cadets of the army of the Reichswehr and later the Wehrmacht. With increased recruitment of officers in 1935 and especially in the...
, and promoted to Captain during 1940. In 1941, he was transferred to the 1st Panzer Division as an adjutant. From April 1942, he served in the General Army Office (Allgemeines Heeresamt) as a motorization officer, receiving the rank of a Major on June. On 2 October, he was appointed the personal adjutant for the Army's Personnel Department chief, a position he held until the end of the Second World War. As such, he served under General Rudolf Schmundt
Rudolf Schmundt
Rudolf Schmundt was an officer in the German Army during World War II.-Biography:Schmundt was born in Metz and served as a Lieutenant during the World War I...
. On 1 April 1944, Weiß was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. On 20 July 1944, Schmundt was severely wounded in the attempt on Adolf Hitler's life, and was replaced by his deputy, Wilhelm Burgdorf
Wilhelm Burgdorf
Wilhelm Burgdorf was a German general. Born in Fürstenwalde, Burgdorf served as a commander and staff officer in the German Army during World War II.- Military career :...
. Burgdorf officially became the department's chief after his predecessor's death on 1 October.
Battle of Berlin
During 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....
, Weiß was present in the Führerbunker. On 29 April 1945, Major Bernd Freytag von Loringhoven
Bernd Freytag von Loringhoven
General Bernd Freiherr Freytag von Loringhoven , was an officer in the German Army during World War II and was later appointed to the German Federal Armed Forces, the Bundeswehr.-Early life:...
and Rittmeister
Rittmeister
Rotamaster was the military rank of a commissioned cavalry officer in charge of a squadron , the equivalent of O3 or Captain, in the German-speaking armies, Austro-Hungarian, Polish-Lithuanian, Russian and some other states.The exact name of this rank maintains a variety of spellings in different...
Gerhardt Boldt
Gerhardt Boldt
Gerhard Boldt was an officer in the German Army who wrote about his experiences during World War II.-World War II:...
requested General Hans Krebs
Hans Krebs (general)
Hans Krebs was a German Army general of infantry who served during World War II.-Early life:Krebs was born in Helmstedt. He volunteered for service in the Imperial German Army in 1914, was promoted to lieutenant in 1915, and to first lieutenant in 1925...
' permission to join the fighting outside. Krebs consulted with Burgdorf, who answered that they should better take Weiß with them. Hitler allowed them to leave the bunker, and told them: "Send my regards for Wenck
Walther Wenck
-Captive, prisoner, and death:Wenck was captured and put in a prisoner of war camp. He was released in 1947. In 1982, Wenck died in a car accident in Bad Rothenfelde.-See also:* Battle of Berlin - 1945* Battle of Halbe - 1945* Hans Krebs, Chief of Staff...
. He should make haste, before it is too late."
Weiß was separated from the other two and captured by the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
, and subsequently spent five years in a prisoner-of-war camp in Poland. He died in 1958.