August Wittmann
August Wittmann | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 July 1895 |
| Died | 29 March 1977 (aged 81) |
| Allegiance | German Empire Weimar Republic Nazi Germany |
| Branch | German Army |
| Service years | 1914–1920 1935–1945 |
| Rank | Generalleutnant |
| Unit | 390th Field Training Division 3rd Mountain Division 117th Jäger Division 1st Mountain Division |
| Conflicts | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
August Wittmann (20 July 1895 – 29 March 1977) was a general in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Life and career
[edit | edit source]August Wittmann was born in Munich on 20 July 1895. He entered the Bavarian Army as a volunteer shortly after the outbreak of World War I in August 1914, joining a Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment. Commissioned lieutenant in 1917, he left the army in December 1918. He then served with the Bavarian State Police until 1935.[1]
In October 1935 Wittmann rejoined the army and was given command of a Gebirgs (mountain) artillery battalion, rising to lead an artillery regiment three years later.[1] In June 1941, during the battle of Crete, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his leadership of a mountain artillery regiment.[2] Becoming a divisional commander from February 1943, he commanded the 390th Field Training Division[3] and then the 3rd Mountain Division on the Eastern Front,[4] followed by the 117th Jäger Division[5] and the 1st Mountain Division in the Balkans and Austria. He surrendered with his unit in May 1945.[6]
Wittmann ended the war as a Generalleutnant, after promotion to this rank in April 1944.[4]
Awards and decorations
[edit | edit source]- Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (Armed Forces Report) of 11 June 1941 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Gebirgs-Artillerie-Regiment 95 (95th Mountain Artillery Regiment) during the battle of Crete.[7]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 21 June 1941 as Oberstleutnant and commander of the 95th Mountain Artillery Regiment during the battle of Crete.[2]
- German Cross in Gold on 25 August 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 3 Gebirgs-Division (3rd Mountain Division) on the Eastern Front.[8]
References
[edit | edit source]Citations
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b Lucas 1980, p. 219.
- ^ a b Fellgiebel 2000, p. 364.
- ^ Mitcham 2007, p. 93.
- ^ a b Mitcham 2007, p. 266.
- ^ Mitcham 2007, p. 253.
- ^ Mitcham 2007, p. 262.
- ^ Wehrmacht 1985, p. 556.
- ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 519.
Bibliography
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