Articles
- Article by Kevin Prenger
- Published on October 23rd, 2017
Christian Wirth
Christian Wirth was one of the most important executors of the Nazi euthanasia program and Aktion Reinhard, the extermination of the Jews in the General Government in Poland. He became notorious for his enormous sadism and was known by his nickname Christian der Grausame or Christian the Cruel One. He was born November 24, 1885 in Oberbalzheim in the former state of Württemberg. Prior to the outbreak of World War One, Wirth initially worked as a carpenter but in 1910 he became a police officer. During World War one he served on the Western Front and was awarded the Eisernes Kreuz 1 or Iron Cross first class.
- Article by Matthias Ouwejan
- Published on December 14th, 2017
Erwin von Witzleben
Job Wilhelm Georg Erwin Erdmann von Witzleben was born December 4, 1881 in Breslau – at the time the capital of the Prussian province of Silesia, today Wroclaw in southwestern Poland – child of ancient Polish nobility. His father fought in the Franco-German war as Hauptmann in the Imperial army and following his discharge in 1876, he bought Ober-Poppschütz, a small estate in Upper-Silesia. Erwin von Witzleben spent his childhood years in Breslau and later on in Ober-Poppschütz. Here he was brought up by his father and his mother Theresa in strict religious fashion. It was a Prussian tradition to follow in one’s father’s footsteps so Erwin was predestined to join the army. On March 22, 1901 he was commissioned as an officer with average results. Von Witzleben subsequently started his career in the Grenadier regiment König Wilhelm I (2. West Preußisches) nr. 7 in Liegnitz. This was a regiment with a long term tradition regarding the King of Prussia so Erwin von Witzleben was allocated an important position in the army. He began as driver of 12. Kompanie and in later years served in other companies of the Regiment as well. Von Witzleben was promoted to Oberleutnant on June 26, 1910.
- Article by Auke de Vlieger
- Published on October 23rd, 2022
Maximilian Reichsfreiherr von Weichs
Maximilian Maria Joseph Karl Gabriel Lamoral Reichsfreiherr von und zu Weichs an der Glon was born November 12, 1881 in Dessau in Prussian Saxonia. He was the son of a Prussian cavalry officer. After the early demise of his father, Maximilian and his mother moved to Munich where he graduated from high school.
- Article by Wesley Dankers
- Published on March 18th, 2020
Walter Model
Walter Model was one of Adolf Hitler’s favourite generals. On more than one occasion he prevented an imminent military defeat on the Eastern front and he also made short work of the British paratroopers during the Battle of Arnhem.
- Article by Auke de Vlieger
- Published on December 15th, 2016
Walther von Seydlitz-Kurzbach
Walther Kurt von Seydlitz-Kurzbach was born August 22nd, 1888 in Eppendorff-Hamburg. He descended from Prussian military nobility and was a direct descendant of the famous Prussian general Friedrich Wilhelm Freiherr von Seydlitz. In 1908, Walther joined Feldartillerie-Regiment 36 as Fahnenjunker (cadet). He was promoted to Leutnant in 1910.
- Article by Richard Savage
- Published on October 19th, 2019
Werner Schwerdtfeger
This is a short biography of a man whose life was filled with enough experiences, friendships, and drama to serve the lives of several men. Father, husband, friend, scientist, educator, researcher, mentor, aeronaut, and warrior, he comes as close to a true "Man for All Seasons" as many of us could likely imagine. His experiences in wartime, as a uniformed civil service official in the Luftwaffe and flight meteorologist in combat and later as director of the Luftwaffe’s principal forecast agency, would have been the high points of most men’s lives, as wartime service undoubtedly was for many of his comrades.
- Article by Tom Notten
- Published on January 27th, 2017
Wilhelm von Leeb
Wilhelm Joseph Franz von Leeb was born September 5,1876 in Landsberg am Lech, the son of a Bavarian army officer. He was brought up in strict Roman-Catholic fashion which was to leave its marks during his later career. Considering the military tradition of the family, he was destined to become an officer and so it happened. At the age of 19, he joined 4. Feldartillerie König, a Bavarian unit in Augsburg, holding the rank of Fahnenjunker. Next came short detachments to the War Academy in Munich, the Bavarian School of Artillery and Engineers and the artillery factory in Amberg.
- Article by Auke de Vlieger
- Published on March 27th, 2018
Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen
Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen was born October 10, 1895 in Gut Barzdorf in Schlesien (Silesia), at the time German territory. He was a son of General der Kavalerie Manfred von Richthofen and a distant cousin of the brothers Manfred and Lothar von Richthofen, two well known aces from the First World War. In 1913, Wolfram followed his father's footsteps and joined the army and became squadron commander in Hussarenregiment 4. of the cavalry. In 1913 he entered Kriegsschule in Kassel and was promoted to Leutnant in 1914 after graduation. He fought in World War One and in September 1917 he was transferred to the Kaiserliche Luftstreitkräfte (Imperial Air Force) at his own request. On April 4 1918, he was posted to Jagdstaffel 11, a squadron his cousin Manfred served in too. Towards the end of the war, Wolfram had shot down eight enemy aircraft, making him an ace. He was also awarded the Eisernes Kreuz II and I (Iron Cross).
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