Hans-Oscar Wöhlermann
Encyclopedia
Hans-Oscar Wöhlermann was a German officer during World War II
.
Towards the end of the war, Wöhlermann took part in the Battle of the Seelow Heights
and the Battle for Berlin.
During the night of 24 April 1945, the frantic reorganization of Berlin
's defences added to the confusion and to the pressure on officers like Wöhlermann. To better allow General Helmuth Weidling
to concentrate on his overall responsibilities as city commandant, Major-General Werner Mummert
, commander of "Müncheberg" Tank Division (Panzer Division Müncheberg), was ordered to take over the eastern defense sectors A and B. Mummert was also given nominal charge of the LVI Tank Corps
(LVI Panzer Korps).
Weidling then took with him his Chief-of-Staff, Colonel Theodor von Dufving
, to look after the "military" side of his assignment, but kept Lieutenant Colonel Helmuth Reymann
's former Chief-of-Staff, Colonel Hans Refior
, to handle the "civil" side. The civil side included dealing with Joseph Goebbels
and the Nazi Party. Wöhlermann was asked to take command of "Müncheberg", while still remaining in overall charge of artillery. All through the night, Weidling and his senior officers struggled to make some sort of sense of the shambles that had been forced upon them.
On 25 April, the "Nordland" SS Armored Infantry Division
(SS Nordland Panzergrenadier Division) and "Müncheberg" were ordered by Weidling to launch a counterattack to clean up dangerous Soviet penetrations at Tempelhof Airfield
and in Neukolln
.
During the morning of 26 April, "Müncheberg" attacked southward from the northwest end of the Tempelhof Airfield with its last ten tanks. But the attack soon came to a halt due to Soviet defensive fire.
During that same morning, Weidling
's command structure was changed yet again on the whims of German dictator Adolf Hitler
. However, this time the change was for the good. Hitler promoted Lieutenant-Colonel (Oberstleutnant
) Erich Bärenfänger
to a Major-General (Generalmajor) and gave him the command of defence sectors A and B. This change meant that Mummert
could return to the command of the "Müncheberg" Tank Division and Wöhlermann could concentrate on his job as artillery commander. For Weidling, this was a great improvement. For the men of "Müncheberg," experiencing their third change of command in little more than twenty-four hours, it merely added to their total bewilderment.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Towards the end of the war, Wöhlermann took part in the Battle of the Seelow Heights
Battle of the Seelow Heights
The Battle of the Seelow Heights , was a part of the Seelow-Berlin Offensive Operation ; one of the last assaults on large entrenched defensive positions of World War II. It was fought over three days, from 16–19 April 1945...
and the Battle for Berlin.
During the night of 24 April 1945, the frantic reorganization of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
's defences added to the confusion and to the pressure on officers like Wöhlermann. To better allow General Helmuth Weidling
Helmuth Weidling
Helmuth Otto Ludwig Weidling was an officer in the German Army before and during World War II...
to concentrate on his overall responsibilities as city commandant, Major-General Werner Mummert
Werner Mummert
Werner Mummert was a German officer during both World War I and World War II. Mummert was born in Lüttewitz/Saxony. He first joined the German Army in August 1914 and became a Lieutenant of the Reserve , Sachs Karabiner Regiment in 1916...
, commander of "Müncheberg" Tank Division (Panzer Division Müncheberg), was ordered to take over the eastern defense sectors A and B. Mummert was also given nominal charge of the LVI Tank 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...
(LVI Panzer Korps).
Weidling then took with him his Chief-of-Staff, Colonel Theodor von Dufving
Theodor von Dufving
-Berlin, 1945:Dufving completed Senior Staff Officers' training in the War Academy at 1944, and was then assigned as the 76th Panzer Artillery Regiment's chief of staff....
, to look after the "military" side of his assignment, but kept Lieutenant Colonel Helmuth Reymann
Helmuth Reymann
Hellmuth Reymann was an officer in the German Army during World War II. Reymann was one of the last commanders of the Berlin Defense Area during the final assault by Soviet forces on the city of Berlin.-Northern Russia:From 1 October 1942 to 1 October 1943, Lieutenant-General Reymann commanded...
's former Chief-of-Staff, Colonel Hans Refior
Hans Refior
Hans Refior was an officer in the German Army during World War II.On 18 March 1945, Colonel Refior became the Chief of Staff for Lieutenant General Helmuth Reymann during the Battle for Berlin. Reymann was named the commander of the Berlin Defense Area on 6 March...
, to handle the "civil" side. The civil side included dealing with Joseph Goebbels
Joseph Goebbels
Paul Joseph Goebbels was a German politician and Reich Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. As one of Adolf Hitler's closest associates and most devout followers, he was known for his zealous oratory and anti-Semitism...
and the Nazi Party. Wöhlermann was asked to take command of "Müncheberg", while still remaining in overall charge of artillery. All through the night, Weidling and his senior officers struggled to make some sort of sense of the shambles that had been forced upon them.
On 25 April, the "Nordland" SS Armored Infantry Division
11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland
The 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland, also known as Kampfverband Waräger, Germanische-Freiwilligen-Division, SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 11 or 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division Nordland, was a Waffen SS, Panzergrenadier division recruited from foreign volunteers...
(SS Nordland Panzergrenadier Division) and "Müncheberg" were ordered by Weidling to launch a counterattack to clean up dangerous Soviet penetrations at Tempelhof Airfield
Tempelhof International Airport
Berlin Tempelhof Airport was an airport in Berlin, Germany, situated in the south-central borough of Tempelhof-Schöneberg. The airport ceased operating in 2008 in the process of establishing Schönefeld as the sole commercial airport for Berlin....
and in Neukolln
Neukölln
Neukölln is the eighth borough of Berlin, located in the southeastern part of the city and was part of the former American sector under the Four-Power occupation of the city...
.
During the morning of 26 April, "Müncheberg" attacked southward from the northwest end of the Tempelhof Airfield with its last ten tanks. But the attack soon came to a halt due to Soviet defensive fire.
During that same morning, Weidling
Helmuth Weidling
Helmuth Otto Ludwig Weidling was an officer in the German Army before and during World War II...
's command structure was changed yet again on the whims of German dictator 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...
. However, this time the change was for the good. Hitler promoted Lieutenant-Colonel (Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
) Erich Bärenfänger
Erich Bärenfänger
Erich Bärenfänger was an officer in the German Army during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
to a Major-General (Generalmajor) and gave him the command of defence sectors A and B. This change meant that Mummert
Werner Mummert
Werner Mummert was a German officer during both World War I and World War II. Mummert was born in Lüttewitz/Saxony. He first joined the German Army in August 1914 and became a Lieutenant of the Reserve , Sachs Karabiner Regiment in 1916...
could return to the command of the "Müncheberg" Tank Division and Wöhlermann could concentrate on his job as artillery commander. For Weidling, this was a great improvement. For the men of "Müncheberg," experiencing their third change of command in little more than twenty-four hours, it merely added to their total bewilderment.