German Forces

Fegelein and Bittrich

Bundesarchiv

Waffen-SS Standartenfuhrer Hermann Fegelein and Waffen-SS BrigadefuhrerWilhelm Bittrich, Summer 1942. Bittrich is wearing the "pre-1942" pattern Brigadefuhrer collar patches. Fegelein, one of the most prominent Waffen-SS cavalry commanders and a favourite of Himmler, rose to the (unusual) rank combination of Gruppenfuhrer (Allgemeine) SS and Obergruppenfuhrer und General der Waffen-SS. He was executed in the Fuhrerbunker in 1945 for attempting to flee Berlin without leave (he was the recently-disgraced Himmler's representative at Fuhrer's Headquarters at the time). The exact circumstances of the execution remain somewhat unclear. Bittrich, a very capable commander, is mainly remembered now as the defender of Arnhem during Operation Market Garden (as commander, II SS-Panzerkorps). Possessed of a sharp and wounding wit, Bittrich appears nevertheless to have been a civilised and honourable officer. Also, it appears, a tolerant, generous one. He delivered an oration at the funeral of Sepp Dietrich - notwithstanding the fact that he appears to have found the Oberstgruppenfuhrer exasperating as a work colleague. Best regards, JR.