Articles
- Article by Kevin Prenger
- Published on January 19th, 2025
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 Sebastiaan Berends
- Published on March 1st, 2025
Elisabeth Volkenrath
Elisabeth Volkenrath, born Mühlau, was a German camp guard who worked in the concentration camps Ravensbrück, Auschwitz, and Bergen-Belsen during World War II. Volkenrath was born on September 5, 1919 in Schönau an der Katzbach, the sixth child of Josef Mühlau and his wife, who worked as forest workers. From the age of six until fourteen, she attended school in Schönau.
- Article by Matthias Ouwejan
- Published on January 19th, 2025
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 Arnold Palthe
- Published on January 19th, 2025
Helmut Otto Ludwig Weidling
Helmut Otto Ludwig Weidling was born November 2, 1891 in Halberstadt in the present federal state of Sachsen-Anhalt. He served with distinction during World War One and made a brilliant career during World War Two, serving in Poland, France and on the Eastern front.In April 1945, Hitler appointed him military commander of Berlin and he became one of the key figures in the defense of the city. He passed away, a prisoner of war, on November 178, 1955 in a prison near Moscow.
- Article by Auke de Vlieger
- Published on January 19th, 2025
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 Arnold Palthe
- Published on January 19th, 2025
Michael Wittmann
Thinking of German tank commanders of World War Two, names like Otto Carius, Heinz Günter, Kurt Knispel and Franz Bäke come to mind easily, but one of the best known with the highest number of enemy vehicles destroyed remains Michael Wittmann. He was born April 22, 1914 in Vogelthal in the Bavarian Oberpfalz and he died August 8, 1944 near Cynthia in Normandy. This is his story.
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