Fritz Witt

Fritz Witt was born in Germany, with Hohenlimburg the May 27th 1908. He works as salesman in the textile industry of 1925 until the medium of 1931. He joined NSDAP then the S on February 1st 1931. The March 17th 1933, it is allowed in the S Stabswache (guard of the state major) with Berlin. The September 9th 1934 it receives its first promotion with the row of SS-Obersturmführer . Then it receives the command of 3° Co of the Deutschland standarte. It carried out its company during the invasion of the Poland and it is seen allotting the Croix of iron of 1° class (September 26th 1939).

October 1st 1939, one gives him the command of the 1st battalion of Deutschland Standarte and it receives the cross of Knight of the Iron Cross the September 4th 1940) for its actions in France. Felix Steiner recommended this reward and was assisted in this step by Paul Hausser. To raise commented on this handing-over of decoration by this quotation Witt is the prototype even of the leader, never not moving back in front of an obstacle .

The October 16th 1940, it takes the command of the 3rd battalion. While the countryside of the Balkans prepares, Witt is transferred to take the command of the 1st battalion (March 26th 1941). In the morning of the April 10th, the 1st battalion, supported by artillery and of the guns of 88, force the opening of the passage of Klidi, which brings directly in the middle of the Greece. The engagements lasted three days against the British. The losses at the time of these engagements were heavy: 37 died and 95 wounded. Among the losses Franz Witt, her younger brother was. Its battalion captured more than 520 prisoners and much of equipment. One allots the Iron Cross of first class to 14 soldiers and the S Obersturmführer Gert Pleiss, ordering 1st Company, receives the Croix of knight of the Iron Cross for the capture Height 997.

At the time of the countryside of Balkans Witt is distinguished in the battles what is worth the to him German Croix out of gold the February 8th 1942. Finally the battalion of Witt increases its manpower and becomes the SS-Infantry-Regiment 1 . Witt is promoted with the rank of S Obersturmbannführer the November 27th 1941 and it is placed officially at the head of this regiment on July 1st 1942. It receives then the sheets of oak for its Cross of Knight on March 1st 1943, for its actions during the campaigns of: Greece, attacks on Rostov, Kharkov and the combat with Merefa.

It is promoted S Oberführer (intermediate rank between colonel and brigadier general) on July 1st 1943 and at the last day of the month, it takes the command of the 12th Panzerdivision S Hitlerjugend. The April 20th 1944, it is promoted with the row of S Brigadeführer (brigadier general). In the morning of the June 14th 1944, while it is with its PC in Venoix, in France, it is killed during a allied naval bombardment. It was 36 years old.

Fritz Witt is buried with Tillières-on-Avre then with the communal cemetery and then with the German cemetery of Saint-Andre-in-the Eure.

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