Hans Röttiger
Encyclopedia
General Hans Röttiger (16 April 1896 – 15 April 1960) was a Panzer
General
in the German
army during World War II
and the first Inspector of the Bundeswehr
.
He joined the Imperial German Army in 1914 and served from 1915 as a leutnant in the 20th artillery regiment. After World War I
he served in the Reichswehr
as a battery officer, adjutant and battery chief. He then served as an officer on the General Staff of the Wehrmacht
.
At the beginning of World War II Röttiger was an oberstleutnant
and he served as from 1939–1940 as the Chief of Operations VI Corps. From 1940–1942 he was Chief of Staff XXXXI Corps and was then appointed the Chief of Staff of the 4th Panzer Army on the Eastern Front
, serving at Stalingrad. From 1943 to 1944 he was the Chief of Staff of the 4th Army and of Army Group A
from 1944 - 1945 under Generaloberst Josef Harpe
. He then became the Chief of Staff of Army Group C in Italy under Generalfeldmarschall
Albert Kesselring
. On 30 January 1945 he was promoted to General der Panzertruppe
.
Röttiger was a prisoner of war of the British and Americans from the end of the war until 1948. In 1950 he was a participant at the meeting to discuss the establishment of a new German defence force. He re-enlisted in 1956 as a Generalleutnant and on 21 September 1957 he became the first inspector of the Bundeswehr and was instrumental in its early development. On 15 April 1960 he died in office.
Panzer
A Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
General
General (Germany)
General is presently the highest rank of the German Army and Luftwaffe . It is the equivalent to the rank of Admiral in the German Navy .-Early history:...
in the German
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...
army during World War II
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...
and the first Inspector of the Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
.
He joined the Imperial German Army in 1914 and served from 1915 as a leutnant in the 20th artillery regiment. After 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...
he served in the Reichswehr
Reichswehr
The Reichswehr formed the military organisation of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when it was renamed the Wehrmacht ....
as a battery officer, adjutant and battery chief. He then served as an officer on the General Staff of the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
.
At the beginning of World War II Röttiger was an 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...
and he served as from 1939–1940 as the Chief of Operations VI Corps. From 1940–1942 he was Chief of Staff XXXXI Corps and was then appointed the Chief of Staff of the 4th Panzer Army on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
, serving at Stalingrad. From 1943 to 1944 he was the Chief of Staff of the 4th Army and of Army Group A
Army Group A
Army Group A was the name of a number of German Army Groups during World War II.-Western Front, 1940:During the German invasion of the Low Countries and France Army Group A was under the command of General Gerd von Rundstedt, and was responsible for the break-out through the Ardennes...
from 1944 - 1945 under Generaloberst Josef Harpe
Josef Harpe
Josef Harpe was a German Generaloberst who served during World War I and World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
. He then became the Chief of Staff of Army Group C in Italy under Generalfeldmarschall
Generalfeldmarschall
Field Marshal or Generalfeldmarschall in German, was a rank in the armies of several German states and the Holy Roman Empire; in the Austrian Empire, the rank Feldmarschall was used...
Albert Kesselring
Albert Kesselring
Albert Kesselring was a German Luftwaffe Generalfeldmarschall during World War II. In a military career that spanned both World Wars, Kesselring became one of Nazi Germany's most skilful commanders, being one of 27 soldiers awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords...
. On 30 January 1945 he was promoted to General der Panzertruppe
General der Panzertruppe
General der Panzertruppe was a rank of German Army General introduced by the Wehrmacht in 1935. As the commander of a Panzer Corp this rank corresponds to a US Army Lieutenant-General...
.
Röttiger was a prisoner of war of the British and Americans from the end of the war until 1948. In 1950 he was a participant at the meeting to discuss the establishment of a new German defence force. He re-enlisted in 1956 as a Generalleutnant and on 21 September 1957 he became the first inspector of the Bundeswehr and was instrumental in its early development. On 15 April 1960 he died in office.
Awards
- German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold on 26 January 1942 as Oberst im Genearalstab of the XXXI. Armeekorps