Otto Hitzfeld

Otto Maximilian Hitzfeld (7 May 1898 – 6 December 1990) was a German officer during both World War I and World War II. He was awarded the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern) on 9 May 1945. The Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade, Oak Leaves and Swords, was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Hitzfeld was promoted to Major on 1 April 1936 and returned to the Kriegsschule in Dresden, where he taught tactics and military history. He became the aide of the commander of the Kriegsschule on 10 November 1938. He was promoted to Oberstleutnant on 1 August 1939 and became the commander of the 3rd Battalion of 158th Infantry Regiment (III./Infanterie-Regiment 158). With this battalion he participated in the Battle of France. He received command of 593rd Infantry Regiment (Infanterie-Regiment 593) on 15 November 1940 and received both clasps of the Iron Cross by the end of August 1941.

Hitzfeld transferred again in July 1941, this time taking command of the 213th Infantry Regiment (Infanterie-Regiment 213), which he commanded for a year on the Eastern Front. He distinguished himself in the battles near Perekop and the battles on the Crimea for which he received the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 October 1941. He was promoted to Oberst on 1 January 1942 and shortly afterwards received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 17 January 1942. Wounded for the fifth time on 15 August 1942 near Krasnodar, he received the Wound Badge in Gold by the end of the war. After a period of convalescence, he was given the command of the 102. Infanterie-Division.

Hitzfeld, whose nephew Ottmar Hitzfeld was a highly successful football manager in Europe, was promoted to Generalmajor on 1 April 1943 and officially put in command of the 102. Infanterie-Division. He was promoted to Generalleutnant early November 1943 and had to turn over command of the Division. He then took command of the infantry school in Döberitz and again turned over command on 1 November 1944. Hitzfeld was given command of the LXVII. Armeekorps, which he led in the Battle of the Bulge. He was promoted to General der Infanterie on 1 March 1945 and made commanding general of the LXVII. Armeekorps. He shortly became commander of the 11. Armee in April 1945. He declared Göttingen, which was crowded with refugees, as a free city. He was taken prisoner of war by American forces on 19 April 1945 from which he was released on 12 May 1947. He received news that he had been awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords after his release from captivity.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (5 November 1915)
  • 1st Class (5 September 1916)
• Order of the Zähringer Lion 2nd Class (5 June 1917)
• Infantry Assault Badge in Silver
• Wound Badge in Gold
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (25 August 1940)
  • 1st Class (15 August 1941)
• Officers Cross of the Order of the Crown with Swords (22 June 1942)
• Order of Michael the Brave 3rd Class (6 October 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
  • Knight's Cross on 30 October 1941 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 213
  • 65th Oak Leaves on 17 January 1942 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 213
  • 158th Swords on 9 May 1945 as General der Infanterie and commanding general of the LXVII. Armeekorps
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht

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