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Wilhelm Bittrich (26 February 1894 – 19 April 1979) was a high-ranking Waffen-SS commander of Nazi Germany. Between August 1942 and February 1943, Bittrich commanded the SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer , in rear security operations ( Bandenbekämpfung , literally: "gang fighting") in the Soviet Union.
The 8th SS Cavalry Division "Florian Geyer" was a German Waffen-SS cavalry division during World War II.It was formed in 1942 from a cadre of the SS Cavalry Brigade which was involved in the Bandenbekämpfung ("bandit-fighting") operations behind the front line and was responsible for the killing of tens of thousands of the civilian population. [1]
As of 1977, Wilhelm Bittrich served as the chairman. [17] HIAG membership was open to convicted war criminals, with the group's position being to absolve them of their responsibility. For example, the group openly embraced and advocated on behalf of Dietrich, Walter Reder, and Herbert Kappler, former SS men convicted of wartime massacres. [18]
The II SS Panzer Corps was a German Waffen-SS armoured corps which saw action on both the Eastern and Western Fronts during World War II.It was commanded by Paul Hausser during the Third Battle of Kharkov and the Battle of Kursk in 1943 and by Wilhelm Bittrich on the Western Front in 1944.
At its formation, Hohenstaufen was commanded by SS-Obergruppenführer Wilhelm Bittrich. [5] The title Hohenstaufen came from the Hohenstaufen dynasty, a German noble family who produced a number of kings and emperors in the 12th and 13th centuries AD. [6]
Wilhelm Bittrich: 14 October 1941 – 31 December 1941 SS-Obergruppenführer: Matthias Kleinheisterkamp: 31 December 1941 – 19 April 1942 SS-Obergruppenführer: Georg Keppler: 19 April 1942 – 10 February 1943 SS-Brigadeführer: Herbert-Ernst Vahl: 10 February 1943 – 18 March 1943 SS-Oberführer: Kurt Brasack: 18 March 1943 – 29 March 1943
Field Marshal Walter Model (left) conversing with Wilhelm Bittrich in the Arnhem sector. Under a creeping barrage in the morning mist, Kampfgruppe Volker, supported by Tiger II tanks, struck at Heuvel against the 7th Green Howards, the left-hand battalion of the 50th Northumbrian Division's 69th Brigade; here fighting raged all day.
During the remaining days at Arnhem stories of his valour were a constant inspiration to all ranks. He spurned danger, ignored pain and, by his supreme fighting spirit, infected all who witnessed his conduct with the same aggressiveness and dogged devotion to duty which characterised his actions throughout."