Friedrich Hoßbach
Encyclopedia
Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Hoßbach (22 November 1894 – 10 September 1980) was a German
staff officer who in 1937 was the military adjutant to the Fuehrer of the Third Reich, Adolf Hitler
. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
during World War I
. His services were retained in the post-war Reichswehr
, where he was assigned to the General Staff. In 1934, he was appointed as Hitler's adjutant, though retaining his staff position.
. This was a report of a meeting held on November 5, 1937 between Hitler and Feldmarschall von Blomberg
, General von Fritsch
, Admiral Dr. Raeder
, Generaloberst Hermann Göring
, Baron von Neurath
and Hoßbach. His account was found among the Nuremberg papers, where it was an important piece of evidence.
In early 1938, Hoßbach was present when Hitler was presented by Goering with a file purporting to show that General von Fritsch, the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, was guilty of homosexual practices. In defiance of Hitler's orders, Hoßbach took the file to von Fritsch to warn him of the accusations he was about to face. Fritsch gave his word as an officer that the charges were untrue, and Hoßbach passed this message back to Hitler. This did not, as it might have, cost Hoßbach his life, though he was dismissed from his post as Hitler's adjutant two days later.
of Infantry, commanding the 82nd Infantry Division
, the LVI Panzer Corps
, and latterly Fourth Army
on the Russian front, until being dismissed on January 28, 1945 for attempting to break out of East Prussia
in defiance of Hitler's orders.
At the end of the war, Hoßbach was being treated for a minor illness in Göttingen
when US troops approached the town. As a traditionalist conservative largely opposed to the Nazi regime, Hoßbach had been warned by friends to expect a visit from the Gestapo
– who arrived at his house an hour before the Americans. Hoßbach, armed with his pistol, proceeded to engage the visitors in a firefight until they fled, and was taken into American custody.
Three different commanding officers recommended Hoßbach for the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
during the course of 1944, nevertheless the request was turned down each time.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
staff officer who in 1937 was the military adjutant to the Fuehrer of the Third Reich, Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Early career
Hoßbach joined the Reichsheer in 1913, and served on the Eastern FrontEastern Front (World War I)
The Eastern Front was a theatre of war during World War I in Central and, primarily, Eastern Europe. The term is in contrast to the Western Front. Despite the geographical separation, the events in the two theatres strongly influenced each other...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. His services were retained in the post-war Reichswehr
Reichswehr
The Reichswehr formed the military organisation of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when it was renamed the Wehrmacht ....
, where he was assigned to the General Staff. In 1934, he was appointed as Hitler's adjutant, though retaining his staff position.
The Hoßbach Memorandum
His most important contribution to history is his creation of the Hoßbach MemorandumHossbach Memorandum
The Hossbach Memorandum was the summary of a meeting on November 5, 1937 between German dictator Adolf Hitler and his military and foreign policy leadership where Hitler's future expansionist policies were outlined. The meeting marked a turning point in Hitler's foreign policies, which then began...
. This was a report of a meeting held on November 5, 1937 between Hitler and Feldmarschall von Blomberg
Werner von Blomberg
Werner Eduard Fritz von Blomberg was a German Generalfeldmarschall, Minister of War and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces until January 1938.-Early life:...
, General von Fritsch
Werner von Fritsch
Werner Thomas Ludwig Freiherr von Fritsch was a prominent Wehrmacht officer, member of the German High Command, and the second German general to be killed during World War II.-Early life:...
, Admiral Dr. Raeder
Erich Raeder
Erich Johann Albert Raeder was a naval leader in Germany before and during World War II. Raeder attained the highest possible naval rank—that of Großadmiral — in 1939, becoming the first person to hold that rank since Alfred von Tirpitz...
, Generaloberst Hermann Göring
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
, Baron von Neurath
Konstantin von Neurath
Konstantin Freiherr von Neurath was a German diplomat remembered mostly for having served as Foreign minister of Germany between 1932 and 1938...
and Hoßbach. His account was found among the Nuremberg papers, where it was an important piece of evidence.
In early 1938, Hoßbach was present when Hitler was presented by Goering with a file purporting to show that General von Fritsch, the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, was guilty of homosexual practices. In defiance of Hitler's orders, Hoßbach took the file to von Fritsch to warn him of the accusations he was about to face. Fritsch gave his word as an officer that the charges were untrue, and Hoßbach passed this message back to Hitler. This did not, as it might have, cost Hoßbach his life, though he was dismissed from his post as Hitler's adjutant two days later.
World War II
Hoßbach rose to the rank of GeneralGeneral
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
of Infantry, commanding the 82nd Infantry Division
82nd Infantry Division (Germany)
The 82nd Infantry Division was a German Army infantry division in World War II. The 82nd was part of the sixth wave The 82nd Infantry Division (German: 82. Infanteriedivision) was a German Army infantry division in World War II. The 82nd was part of the sixth wave The 82nd Infantry Division...
, the LVI Panzer Corps
LVI Panzer Corps
LVI Panzer Corps was a tank corps in the German Army during World War II.This corps was activated in February 1941 for the German invasion of the Soviet Union, which commenced on June 22, 1941...
, and latterly Fourth Army
German Fourth Army
The 4th Army was a field army of Imperial Germany during World War I and of the Wehrmacht during World War II-World War I:At the outset of war, the Fourth Army, with the Fifth Army, formed the center of the German armies on the Western Front, moving through Luxembourg and Belgium in support of the...
on the Russian front, until being dismissed on January 28, 1945 for attempting to break out of East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
in defiance of Hitler's orders.
At the end of the war, Hoßbach was being treated for a minor illness in Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
when US troops approached the town. As a traditionalist conservative largely opposed to the Nazi regime, Hoßbach had been warned by friends to expect a visit from the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
– who arrived at his house an hour before the Americans. Hoßbach, armed with his pistol, proceeded to engage the visitors in a firefight until they fled, and was taken into American custody.
Awards
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak LeavesKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
- Knight's Cross (7 October 1940)
- 298th Oak Leaves (11 September 1943)
- Mentioned three times in the WehrmachtberichtWehrmachtberichtThe Wehrmachtbericht was a daily radio report on the Großdeutscher Rundfunk of Nazi Germany, published by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht regarding the military situation on all fronts of World War II....
(18 October 1943, 6 April 1944, 31 October 1944)
Three different commanding officers recommended Hoßbach for the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
during the course of 1944, nevertheless the request was turned down each time.
Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht
| Date | Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording | English translation |
|---|---|---|
| 6 April 1944 | Verbände des Heeres und der Waffen-SS haben unter dem Oberbefehl des Generalobersten Weiß und unter der Führung der Generale der Infanterie Hoßbach und Mattenklott nach tagelangen harten Angriffskämpfen durch die Pripjetsümpfe bei ungewöhnlichen Geländeschwierigkeiten den feindlichen Ring um Kowel gesprengt und damit ihre Kameraden aus der Umklammerung befreit. | Units of the Army and the Waffen-SS Waffen-SS The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside... have, under the High Command of Generaloberst Weiß Walter Weiß General Walter-Otto Weiß was a Wehrmacht High Command officer in World War II. He became Commander in Chief of Army Group North on the Eastern Front in 1945. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves... and under the leadership of Generals of the Infantry Hoßbach and Mattenklott Franz Mattenklott Franz Mattenklott was a German General der Infanterie during World War II and recipient of the renowned Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross was Nazi Germany's highest award for military gallantry and was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military... , after days of harsh fighting through the Pripyat Marshes at rough terrain, broken the enemy ring at Kowel and by that our comrades were freed from the clutch. |