Executed RKtraeger

Sarge1st · Post by **Sarge1st** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:44 am

Other than GFM Rommel were any other RKtraeger executed, or forced to commit suicide, by the Nazi leadership during the war? I know that Rommel was implicated (to a lesser degree) in the July 20 bomb plot, what about the other RKtraeger who might have been executed or forced to commit suicide? What were their alleged crimes against the German government?

TimoWr · Post by **TimoWr** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:50 am

Fegelein springs to mind, but there are dozens more.

Sarge1st · Post by **Sarge1st** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:58 am

Ahhhh, I forgot about Fegelein. "Dozens" you say?? I am very interested in learning more about this subject and the reasons why these men were eliminated (I would imagine some for political intrigue, some for falling out of favor with Hitler, and still others for varoius other reasons). How many RKtraeger were killed by, or died as a result of imprisonment by the Russiaans after the war I wonder. Thanks for the input TimWr.

Helmut Von Moltke · Post by **Helmut Von Moltke** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 6:47 am

here is my known list other than the ones mentioned so far: source "Hitler's field marshals and their battles" and "Knight's Cross and Oak Leaves recipents 1941 - 45"

Hauptmann Roland Von Hosslin
Field Marshal Guenther Von Kluge
Field Marshal Erwin Von Witzbelen

Field Marshal Ewald Von Kleist died in Soviet captivity in 1956
Field Marshal Von Brautisch died in Allied captivity in 1946

Kevin

Sarge1st · Post by **Sarge1st** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:41 am

Thank you Gentlemen for your responses. Looks like it was quite dangerous to be promoted to Fieldmarshal. Any info on the circumstances surrounding their deaths (not just the GFMs)?

TimoWr · Post by **TimoWr** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:08 am

Friedrich Olbricht
Friedrich Fromm
Roland von Hößlin
Erwin von Witzleben
Carl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel
Erich Hoepner

All were executed following the July plot.

Michael Miller / ABR · Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:08 pm

Add Swords recipient SS-Gruf.u.Gen.Lt.d.W-SS Hermann Fegelein to the list-

27.04.1945 Departed from the Führerbunker and went to his apartment at 4 Bleibtreustrasse
in Berlin-Charlottenburg. There he changed into civilian clothes and met up with the wife of a Hungarian diplomat, possibly his mistress. His absence was noted by Hitler and members of the Reichssicherheitsdienst [RSD / Hitler’s personal security force] were sent out to search. He was arrested by SS-Obersturmbannführer Peter Högl at his apartment. Found in Fegelein’s possession were 105.725 Reichsmark, 3185 Swiss Francs, and pieces of gold. Taken back to the Führerbunker, he was confronted by Hitler who, after learning of Himmler’s attempts to contact the Allies via the Swedish Red Cross envoy Count Folke Bernadotte, became suspicious of Fegelein’s actions and motives. A court-martial was hastily assembled, during which Wilhelm Mohnke, in charge of the defense of the Reichskanzlei, degraded him to SS-Mann, expelled him from the SS, and ordered him held in an improvised cell. Fegelein was later interrogated by Heinrich Müller, chief of the Gestapo on 28.04.1945. The next evening, on Hitler’s orders, he was taken into the garden of the Foreign Office and shot by members of the Reichssicherheitsdienst.

~ Mike

Michael Miller / ABR · Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:10 pm

Generalleutnant Hans Graf von Sponeck (RK 14.05.1940) was shot by SS men on 23. July 1944. See http://das-ritterkreuz.de/index_search_ ... rd=Sponeck .

~ Mike

Michael Miller / ABR · Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:14 pm

A few more are listed under "Chart 4" at http://www.geocities.com/orion47.geo/CR ... alties.htm .

Best wishes,
~ Mike

Doktor Krollspell · Post by **Doktor Krollspell** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:48 am

Hello Sarge1st!

When it comes to the executed RKT that were involved in the "July 20th" assassination plot in 1944, the People's Court (Volksgerichtshof) not only condemned them to death but also officially stripped them of all military status such as as their ranks and their decorations. So technically, and, by the time, legally speaking, their status as RKT was revoked. This in no way diminishes these men and their deeds, neither as "former" RKT and what they did to recieve this award, or as participants (albeit in different ways/grades) in the July plot. Even if Friedrich Fromm's actions on the 20th are quite despicable...

Friedrich Fromm recieved the RK on 06.07.1940 as a Gen.d.Art and Chef d. Heeresrüstung und Befh. d. Ersatzheeres.

Gustav Heistermann von Ziehlberg recieved the RK on 27.07.1944 as a Gen.Lt. and Kdt. 28. Jg.Div. (Interesting that he recieved the RK after the July 20 plot, later arrested and finally executed on 02.02.1945)

Otto Herfurth recieved the RK on 14.09.1942 as an Oberst commanding IR 117.

Erich Hoepner recieved the RK on 27.10.1939 as a Gen.d.Kav. and commanding XVI. AK. (Hoepner had his military rank and awards revoked as early as 08.01.1942 and was condemned to death as a civilian by the People's Court in 1944.)

Roland von Hößlin recieved the RK on 23.07.1942 as a Hauptmann und Fhr. Pz.AA 33.

Fritz Jäger recieved the RK on 26.05.1940 as a Major commanding II./IR 8.

Fritz Lindemann recieved the RK on 04.09.1941 as an Oberst z.V., Arko 138. (He died/was killed while in Gestapo custody on 22.09.1944)

Friedrich Olbricht recieved the RK on 27.10.1939 as a Gen.Lt. and Kdr. 24. Inf.Div. (Olbricht had his military rank and awards revoked posthumously in August 1944.)

Carl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel recieved the RK on 21.08.1941 as a Gen.d.Inf. and OB 17. Armee.

Karl Freiherr von Thüngen recieved the RK on 06.04.1943 as a Gen.Lt. and Kdt. 18. Pz.Div.

Erwin von Witzleben recieved the RK on 24.06.1940 as a Gen.Obst. and OB 1. Armee.

Source as always is Veit Scherzer's "Ritterkreuzträger" (2005).

Regards,

Krollspell

Jan-Hendrik · Post by **Jan-Hendrik** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 2:02 am

Add Oberst Fritz Jäger :

http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de/index_sea ... rd=J%E4ger

Jan-Hendrik

Doktor Krollspell · Post by **Doktor Krollspell** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 1:25 pm

Thanks for the additional information Jan-Hendrik!

I will add him to the previous list in this thread. Some more information about Oberst Fritz Jäger... His last command was that of Kdr. d. Pz.Tr. XXI/II and he was thrown out of the Heer on 14.08.1944, stood trial as a civilian and was executed on 21.08.1944. Source Veit Scherzer "Ritterkreuzträger" (2005).

Can you, or any other member tell what his last command was... the Kdr. d. Pz.Tr. XXI/II. Is it something with the Wehrkreis system?

Regards,

Krollspell

Doktor Krollspell · Post by **Doktor Krollspell** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 4:07 am

I just found a short bio and a photo of Oberst Fritz Jäger on http://www.gdw-berlin.de/bio/ausgabe_mit-e.php?id=215

Fritz Jaeger (September 25, 1895 - August 21, 1944)

Fritz Jaeger enters Lichterfelde Military College shortly before the First World War and resigns his commission in November 1918, but goes on to fight in the battles in the Baltic Provinces. In the 1920s he works as a self-employed credit broker for several years. His sympathy for German nationalism leads him to serve temporarily as adjutant to the regional leader of the Stahlhelm (Steel Helmet federation of combat veterans) in Berlin. At the end of 1934 he accepts recommission for the Reich Army. In 1942 Jaeger serves in the Army High Command, where he meets General Olbricht. He offers his support to the conspirators as commander of the tank corps in military districts II (Stettin) and XXI (Kalisch). On July 20, 1944, Jaeger reports to Olbricht in the Bendler Block. Shortly after, he arrests and disarms two SS officers. After the failure of the coup he is arrested, sentenced to death by the People’s Court on August 21, 1944 and murdered the same day in Berlin-Plötzensee.

Fritz Jäger

Regards,

Krollspell

Doktor Krollspell · Post by **Doktor Krollspell** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 4:18 am

As the senior officers of general rank are widely known, here's a bio and a photo on RKT Roland von Hößlin, taken from http://www.gdw-berlin.de/bio/ausgabe_mit-e.php?id=137

Roland-Heinrich von Hößlin (February 21, 1915 - October 13, 1944)

Roland-Heinrich Hößlin comes from an Augsburg family. As a young officer he sees how the National Socialists conduct the war, and this causes him to change from being a faithful supporter to a firm opponent of Hitler. As commander of a tank reconnaissance detachment in the Africa Corps he is wounded in July 1942 and awarded the Knight’s Cross. Hößlin is a major in the Bamberg 17th Cavalry Regiment, Stauffenberg’s old regiment. In April 1944 Stauffenberg tells him about the conspirators’ plans to overthrow Hitler. In the event of a successful coup, as commander of tank reconnaissance reserve detachment 24 in Insterburg/East Prussia (military district I), Hößlin is to occupy key buildings and organize measures against the NSDAP. Hößlin is arrested on August 23, 1944 in Meiningen/Thuringia, discharged from the Army and sentenced to death by the People’s Court on October 13, 1944. He is murdered the same day in Berlin-Plötzensee.

Roland von Hößlin

Regards,

Krollspell

Jan-Hendrik · Post by **Jan-Hendrik** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 6:20 am

I will see what I can dig out regarding Oberst Jäger tomorrow , Lubs' history of IR 5 gives a little bit about him .

Jan-Hendrik