m clean up using AWB |
K.e.coffman (talk | contribs) Streamline infobox (uncited material); c/e lead to reflect the ambiguity of the award; immaterial propaganda mention; intricate detail unlikely to be found in secondary RS & challenged since 2012 -- I will preserve this material on the Talk page |
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|image=Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1995-082-19, Otto Hitzfeld.jpg |
|image=Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1995-082-19, Otto Hitzfeld.jpg |
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|caption= |
|caption= |
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|nickname= |
|nickname= |
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|allegiance={{flag|German Empire}} (to 1918)<br/>{{flag|Weimar Republic}} (to 1933)<br/>{{flag|Nazi Germany}} |
|allegiance=<!---- {{flag|German Empire}} (to 1918)<br/>{{flag|Weimar Republic}} (to 1933)<br/> ---->{{flag|Nazi Germany}} |
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|branch=[[German Army (Wehrmacht)|Army]] |
|branch=[[German Army (Wehrmacht)|Army (Wehrmacht)]] |
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|serviceyears=1914–45 |
|serviceyears=1914–45 |
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|rank=[[General of the Infantry (Germany)|General |
|rank=[[General of the Infantry (Germany)|General of the Infantry]] |
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|commands= |
|commands=[[102nd Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)|102nd Infantry Division]] <br/>LXVII Army Corps<br/>[[11th Army (Wehrmacht)|11th Army]] |
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|unit= |
|unit= |
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|battles=[[World War I]] |
|battles= [[World War I]] |
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---- |
---- |
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[[World War II]] |
[[World War II]] |
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|awards=[[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords]] |
|awards=[[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords]] |
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|laterwork= |
|laterwork= |
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|relations= |
|relations= |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Otto Maximilian Hitzfeld''' (7 May 1898 – 6 December 1990) was a |
'''Otto Maximilian Hitzfeld''' (7 May 1898 – 6 December 1990) was a general in the [[Wehrmacht]] of [[Nazi Germany]] during [[World War II]]. He was listed as a recipient of the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross|Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords]] by the West German [[Knight's_Cross_of_the_Iron_Cross#Association_of_Knight.27s_Cross_Recipients|Association of Knight's Cross Recipients]]. |
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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Hitzfeld was promoted to ''[[Major (Germany)|Major]]'' on 1 April 1936 and returned to the ''[[Kriegsschule (Wehrmacht)|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. |
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Hitzfeld received command of the [[102nd Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)|102nd Infantry Division]] in April 1943. 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 of the Infantry (Germany)|''General der Infanterie'']] on 1 March 1945 and made commanding general of the LXVII Armeekorps. |
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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 [[Perekop]] and the battles on the [[Crimea]] for which he received the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross|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 given the command of the [[102nd Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)|102. Infanterie-Division]]. |
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He became commander of the [[11th Army (Wehrmacht)|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 he 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. |
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==Summary of career== |
==Summary of career== |
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** 65th Oak Leaves on 17 January 1942 as ''Oberstleutnant'' and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 213<ref name="Scherzer p393"/><ref>Fellgiebel 2000, p. 57.</ref><ref>Von Seemen 1976, p. 27.</ref> |
** 65th Oak Leaves on 17 January 1942 as ''Oberstleutnant'' and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 213<ref name="Scherzer p393"/><ref>Fellgiebel 2000, p. 57.</ref><ref>Von Seemen 1976, p. 27.</ref> |
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** 158th Swords on 9 May 1945 as ''General der Infanterie'' and commanding general of the LXVII. Armeekorps<ref>Fellgiebel 2000, p. 49.</ref><ref>Von Seemen 1976, p. 21.</ref>{{refn|Otto Hitzfeld's nomination was rejected by Major [[Joachim Domaschk]] on 30 April 1945 and commented: "This is <u>not</u> a nomination!" (Only leadership and organisational achievements, no personal bravery) he additionally noted: "missing in cauldron AOK 11". The nomination was thus assessed as insufficient as well as postponed according to ''AHA 44 Ziff. 572''. The entry date noted on the nomination list for the higher grades of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross is 28 April 1945. The list indicates a note "deferred". The approval cannot be proven. The order commission of the [[Association of Knight's Cross Recipients]] (AKCR) handled the case in 1981 and decided: Swords yes, 9 May 1945. The AKCR claims that the award was presented in accordance with the [[Dönitz-decree]]. This is illegal according to the [[Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt)]] and lacks legal justification. The sequential number "158" and presentation date was assigned by the AKCR. Hitzfeld was member of the AKCR.<ref>Scherzer 2007, p. 141.</ref>|group="Notes"}} |
** 158th Swords on 9 May 1945 as ''General der Infanterie'' and commanding general of the LXVII. Armeekorps<ref>Fellgiebel 2000, p. 49.</ref><ref>Von Seemen 1976, p. 21.</ref>{{refn|Otto Hitzfeld's nomination was rejected by Major [[Joachim Domaschk]] on 30 April 1945 and commented: "This is <u>not</u> a nomination!" (Only leadership and organisational achievements, no personal bravery) he additionally noted: "missing in cauldron AOK 11". The nomination was thus assessed as insufficient as well as postponed according to ''AHA 44 Ziff. 572''. The entry date noted on the nomination list for the higher grades of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross is 28 April 1945. The list indicates a note "deferred". The approval cannot be proven. The order commission of the [[Association of Knight's Cross Recipients]] (AKCR) handled the case in 1981 and decided: Swords yes, 9 May 1945. The AKCR claims that the award was presented in accordance with the [[Dönitz-decree]]. This is illegal according to the [[Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt)]] and lacks legal justification. The sequential number "158" and presentation date was assigned by the AKCR. Hitzfeld was member of the AKCR.<ref>Scherzer 2007, p. 141.</ref>|group="Notes"}} |
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* Mentioned in the ''[[Wehrmachtbericht]]'' |
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===Promotions=== |
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{| style="background:none;" |
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| 22 April 1915: || ''[[Fahnenjunker]]''-''[[Gefreiter]]'' |
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| 19 May 1915: || ''Fahnenjunker''-''[[Unteroffizier]]'' |
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| 30 September 1915: || ''[[Fähnrich]]'' |
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| 18 February 1916: || ''[[Leutnant]]'' |
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|- |
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| 31 July 1925: || ''[[Oberleutnant]]'' |
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| April 1932: || ''[[Rittmeister]]'' |
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|- |
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| 1 April 1936: || ''[[Major (Germany)|Major]]'' |
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| 1 August 1939: || ''[[Oberstleutnant]]'' |
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|- |
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| 17 December 1941: || ''[[Oberst]]'' |
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| 1 April 1943: || ''[[Generalmajor]]'' |
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|- |
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| 8 November 1943: || ''[[Generalleutnant]]'' |
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| 1 March 1945: || ''[[General der Infanterie]]'' |
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|} |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
Revision as of 01:28, 6 March 2017
Otto Hitzfeld | |
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Born | Schluchsee | 7 May 1898
Died | 6 December 1990 Dossenheim | (aged 92)
Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
Service/ | Army (Wehrmacht) |
Years of service | 1914–45 |
Rank | General of the Infantry |
Commands held | 102nd Infantry Division LXVII Army Corps 11th Army |
Battles/wars | World War I
World War II |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords |
Otto Maximilian Hitzfeld (7 May 1898 – 6 December 1990) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was listed as a recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords by the West German Association of Knight's Cross Recipients.
Career
Hitzfeld received command of the 102nd Infantry Division in April 1943. 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 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 he 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.
Summary of career
Awards
- Iron Cross (1914)
- Order of the Zähringer Lion 2nd Class (5 June 1917)
- Infantry Assault Badge in Silver[2]
- Wound Badge in Gold[2]
- Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
- Officers Cross of the Order of the Crown with Swords (22 June 1942)
- Order of Michael the Brave 3rd Class (6 October 1942)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
- Knight's Cross on 30 October 1941 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 213[3][4][5]
- 65th Oak Leaves on 17 January 1942 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 213[3][6][7]
- 158th Swords on 9 May 1945 as General der Infanterie and commanding general of the LXVII. Armeekorps[8][9][Notes 1]
Notes
- ^ Otto Hitzfeld's nomination was rejected by Major Joachim Domaschk on 30 April 1945 and commented: "This is not a nomination!" (Only leadership and organisational achievements, no personal bravery) he additionally noted: "missing in cauldron AOK 11". The nomination was thus assessed as insufficient as well as postponed according to AHA 44 Ziff. 572. The entry date noted on the nomination list for the higher grades of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross is 28 April 1945. The list indicates a note "deferred". The approval cannot be proven. The order commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) handled the case in 1981 and decided: Swords yes, 9 May 1945. The AKCR claims that the award was presented in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The sequential number "158" and presentation date was assigned by the AKCR. Hitzfeld was member of the AKCR.[10]
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Berger, Florian (1999). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-0-6.
{{cite book}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
{{cite book}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - Hitzfeld, Otto Maximilian (1983). Bradley, Dermot (ed.). Ein Infanterist in zwei Weltkriegen: Erinnerungen 1898–1980 (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio. ISBN 978-3-7648-1269-0.
{{cite book}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
{{cite book}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - Von Seemen, Gerhard (1976). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 : die Ritterkreuzträger sämtlicher Wehrmachtteile, Brillanten-, Schwerter- und Eichenlaubträger in der Reihenfolge der Verleihung : Anhang mit Verleihungsbestimmungen und weiteren Angaben (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7909-0051-4.
{{cite book}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.
{{cite book}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help)