German Forces

Hitlerjugend celebration.

Group photo of officers of the 12 SS Panzerdivision, "Hitlerjugend", at the birthday celebration laid on by his brother officers for the Divisional commander, Fritz Witt, Tillieres-sur-Arne, Normandy, 27 May, 1944. Facing Witt at centre front is Standartenfuhrer Kurt ("Panzer") Meyer, Witt's effective Number Two and successor as Divisional commander. Between Witt and Meyer (in Panzer Black) is Obersturmbannfuhrer Max Wunsche, commander of the Division's Panzer Regiment; behind Meyer is Sturmbannfuhrer Heinrich Springer, Divisional Adjutant. Behind Witt, looking straight at camera, is Obersturmbannfuhrer Wilhelm Mohnke, commander of SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 26, and destined to be "Hitler's Last General" (or at least "fighting general) amidst the ruins of Berlin a year later. These officers were all distinguished veterans of 1st SS Panzer Division, "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler", of which "Hitlerjugend was a "child division". All survived the war apart from Fritz Witt himself, who was fatally wounded in the head by naval gunfire in the early stage of Operation Market Garden, only a few weeks later. Best regards, JR.