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World War 2 Photos > German Leadership > Himmler's godfather.

Himmler's godfather.

Description

Heinrich Himmler's father, Gebhard Himmler Snr., was a distinguished Bavarian secondary school head teacher, and a devoted adherent of the Bavarian Royal House of Wittelsbach. His merits and loyalty were rewarded with an appointment as a tutor to Prince Heinrich Luitpold von Bayern, by all accounts a charming and highly intelligent young man; also absolutely sane, which is more than can be said of many of his family. The elder Himmler and the Prince appear to have got on; when the second Himmler son was born, Gebhard Snr. petitioned his distinguished pupil to allow the baby to take his name. The Prince graciously consented, and went further, becoming godfather to the child. The baby - Heinrich Luitpold Himmler - was to have a notable future.

Prince Heinrich was not to enjoy long life. As was traditional for senior males in his family, he joined the German (Bavarian) Army following completion of his secondary education, serving as an officer in WW1. He was seriously wounded in an artillery barrage at Verdun, following which he was awarded the Iron Cross, First Class. On November 7, 1916, while serving with the 3rd Battalion, Deutches Alpenkorps in Romania, he was fatally wounded by sniper fire, and died the next day. He was posthumously awarded the (Bavarian) Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Maximilian-Joseph in recognition of his consistent record of bravery and military merit. The Prince was 32 years of age at the time of his death. Best regards, JR.

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