Nickname: "Der Löwe von Sewastopol" (Lion of Sevastopol)
Date of birth: 7 May 1898 - Schluchsee-Blasiwald, district Waldshut, Baden (German Empire)
Date of death: 6 December 1990 - Dossenheim, Baden-Württemberg (Germany)
Buried: Dossenheim, Stadtfriedhof. Im Reigart 5, 69221 Dossenheim. Feld 5-Randreihe-Grab 99/100
Religion: Roman Catholic
Parents: Father Georg Hitzfeld (head teacher), mother Josefine Hitzfeld (née Zäts)
Siblings: At least one known sibling (details limited)
Spouse: Elfriede “Elfy” Tonia Sauer (married 1943)
Children: Family life documented post-war; uncle to football manager Ottmar Hitzfeld
Promotions:
18 January 1915: War volunteer in replacement battalion of 7. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 142
22 April 1915: Fahnenjunker
19 May 1915: Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier
30 September 1915: Fähnrich
18 February 1916: Leutnant
31 July 1925: Oberleutnant
1 April 1932: Hauptmann
1 April 1936: Major
1 August 1939: Oberstleutnant
17 December 1941: Oberst
1 April 1943: Generalmajor
8 November 1943: Generalleutnant
1 March 1945: General der Infanterie
Career:
Entered Army Service (18 Jan 1915)
War Volunteer in the Replacement-Battalion of the 142nd Infantry-Regiment (18 Jan 1915-22 Apr 1915)
Fahnenjunker in the 142nd Infantry-Regiment (22 Apr 1915-10 Jul 1915)
In the Field with the 142nd Infantry-Regiment (10 Jul 1915-05 May 1917)
Detached to Company & Platoon Leader Course of the 29th Infantry-Division (28 May 1916-11 Jun 1916)
Detached to Course at the Assault School of XIV. Army-Corps (20 Sep 1916-30 Sep 1916)
Detached to Course at the Assaulty-School of the 29th Infantry-Division (15 Nov 1916-01 Dec 1916)
Ordinance and Court Officer of the 142nd Infantry-Regiment (05 May 1917-20 May 1917)
Adjutant of III. Battalion of the 142nd Infantry-Regiment (20 May 1917-11 May 1918)
Wounded, in Hospital (11 May 1918-26 Jun 1918)
Company-Leader in the Replacement-Battalion of the 142nd Infantry-Regiment (26 Jun 1918-29 Jul 1918)
Adjutant of III. Battalion of the 142nd Infantry-Regiment (29 Jul 1918-19 Dec 1918)
Temporary Regiments-Adjutant of the 142nd Infantry-Regiment (19 Dec 1918-13 Jan 1919)
Regiments-Adjutant of the 142nd Infantry-Regiment (13 Jan 1919-24 Jan 1919)
Adjutant of II. Baden Volunteer-Battalion (24 Jan 1919-11 Oct 1919)
Battalion-Adjutant in the 113th Reichswehr-Rifle-Regiment (11 Oct 1919-01 Jan 1921)
Transferred into the 14th Infantry-Regiment (01 Jan 1921-16 Mar 1923)
Detached to Signals Courses in J�terbog (04 Feb 1921-23 Mar 1921)
Transferred into the MG-Company of the 14th Infantry-Regiment, Meinigen (16 Mar 1923-01 Oct 1923)
Battalion-Adjutant in the 14th Infantry-Regiment, Meinigen (01 Oct 1923-01 Oct 1927)
Detached to Officers Weapons School Course in Dresden (01 Oct 1926-20 Feb 1927)
Transferred into the 4th (MG) Company of the 14th Infantry-Regiment (01 Oct 1927-01 Nov 1928)
Detached to Signals Course in J�terbog (16 Apr 1928-25 Aug 1928)
Signals-Officer with the Staff of III. Battalion of the 14th Infantry-Regiment, Konstanz (01 Nov 1928-1928)
With the 4th (MG) Company (1928-1929)
With the 13th (MG) Company (1929-01 Apr 1930)
Signals-Officer with the Staff of the 14th Infantry-Regiment (01 Apr 1930-01 Oct 1931)
Transferred into the 6th Artillery-Regiment and Detached as Adjutant of the Instruction-Regiment of Infantry-School Dresden (01 Oct 1931-01 Apr 1932)
Transferred into the 3rd Mounted-Regiment with unchanged service use (01 Apr 1932-01 May 1933)
Transferred to Infantry-School Dresden (01 May 1933-01 Oct 1934)
Company-Chief in Infantry-Regiment T�bingen (01 Oct 1934-15 Oct 1935)
Inspection-Chief of 4th (MG) Company of the 35th Infantry-Regiment (15 Oct 1935-01 Jan 1937)
Tactics-Instructor at the War-School Dresden (01 Jan 1937-01 Aug 1938)
Transferred to the War-School Wiener Neustadt (01 Aug 1938-10 Nov 1938)
Detached as Chief of Operations (Ia) to the Department of Generalmajor Reinhard (12 Sep 1938-19 Oct 1938)
Adjutant of the War-School Wiener Neustadt (10 Nov 1938-26 Aug 1939)
Detached as Chief of Operations (Ia) to the Staff of Generalmajor Engelbrecht Army-Service-Office 30 with Army-Group-Command 5 (11 Mar 1939-05 Apr 1939)
Commander of III. Battalion of the 158th Infantry-Regiment (26 Aug 1939-15 Nov 1940-15 Nov 1940)
Commander of the 593rd Infantry-Regiment (15 Nov 1940-05 Jul 1941)
Commander of the 213th Infantry-Regiment (05 Jul 1941-15 Aug 1942)
Wounded, in Hospital (Berlin & Badenweiler) (15 Aug 1942-19 Aug 1942)
F�hrer-Reserve OKH (19 Aug 1942-20 Jan 1943)
Delegated with the Leadership of the 102nd Infantry-Division (20 Jan 1943-01 Apr 1943)
Commander of the 102nd Infantry-Division (01 Apr 1943-05 Nov 1943)
F�hrer-Reserve OKH (05 Nov 1943-20 Nov 1943)
Commander of the Infantry-School D�beritz (20 Nov 1943-01 Nov 1944)
F�hrer-Reserve OKH (01 Nov 1944-01 Dec 1944)
Detached to the Commander-in-Chief West for Briefing as a Commanding General (01 Dec 1944-01 Dec 1944)
Delegated with the Temporary Leadership of LXVII. Army-Corps (01 Dec 1944-16 Dec 1944)
Delegated with the Leadership of LXVII. Army-Corps (16 Dec 1944-01 Mar 1945)
Commanding General of LXVII. Army-Corps (01 Mar 1945-02 Apr 1945)
Delegated with the Leadership of 11th Army (02 Apr 1945-08 Apr 1945)
Commanding General of LXVII. Army-Corps (08 Apr 1945-19 Apr 1945)
In US Captivity (19 Apr 1945-12 May 1947)
Released (12 May 1947)
Awards and decorations:
1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse (5 November 1915)
1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse (5 September 1916)
Verwundetenabzeichen 1918 in Silber (1918)
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 2. Klasse, 18 Jahre
SA-Sportabzeichen
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938 (1939)
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938 mit Spange "Prager Burg" (1939)
1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse (25 August 1940)
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen
1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse (15 August 1941)
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes #631 (30 October 1941) as Oberstleutnant and Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 213 / 73.Infanterie-Division. As a Regimentskommandeur, Hitzfeld led the main effort in the assault on the heavily fortified Perekop Isthmus in the Crimea. On 24-25 September 1941, under intense Soviet artillery and machine-gun fire across open terrain dotted with mines, barbed wire, and the ancient Tatar Ditch, his regiment spearheaded the breach of the outer Soviet defensive lines at the Chervonyi Chaban State Farm.
Pioneer teams under fire cleared paths through obstacle belts while infantry assault groups used smoke, flamethrowers, and close-quarters combat to overrun bunkers. Despite heavy losses (including four company commanders on the first day), Hitzfeld’s bold thrust pushed through to the Tatar Wall itself. His regiment’s success triggered the collapse of adjacent Soviet positions, enabling the Germans to force their way across the ditch and capture key points like Armyansk in bitter house-to-house fighting. This breakthrough opened the gateway into the Crimea and earned Hitzfeld the Ritterkreuz for decisive leadership and personal bravery in one of the war’s toughest positional assaults.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #65 (17 January 1942) as Oberst and Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 213 / 73.Infanterie-Division. During the harsh winter fighting in the Crimea (1941/42), Hitzfeld’s regiment distinguished itself in savage defensive actions against repeated massive Soviet assaults. His troops held positions amid freezing conditions, repelling wave after wave of attacks through disciplined fire, effective use of terrain, and timely counterattacks.
A standout action came in mid-January 1942 during the recapture of Feodosia. Leading Kampfgruppe Hitzfeld (Infanterie-Regiment 213 reinforced with artillery, antitank guns, and assault guns), he launched a surprise dawn attack on 15 January. Supported by air strikes and assault guns, his forces overran Soviet ridge positions west of the town, achieving complete surprise and routing elements of the Soviet 44th Army. The rapid advance secured dominant heights, disrupted Soviet landings, and stabilized the German line. His regiment’s outstanding performance in these defensive and counteroffensive battles across the winter campaign earned him the 65th Eichenlaub.
Rumanian Ordinul Coroana Romaniei Ofiter (22 June 1942)
Rumanian Ordinul Mihai Viteazul Clasa 3 (6 October 1942)
Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille) (1942)
Krimschild
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Gold
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern #158 (9 May 1945) as General der Infanterie and Kommandierender General LXVII. Armeekorps. Hitzfeld led his formations (primarily Volksgrenadier divisions) in the northern sector of the Ardennes Offensive (Battle of the Bulge) from December 1944 into January 1945. His corps conducted determined attacks north of Monschau, fighting in bitter winter conditions against strong American defenses to secure flanks and push toward key roads.
Though the offensive ultimately stalled, Hitzfeld’s leadership maintained cohesion under heavy pressure, conducted skillful withdrawals, and preserved combat effectiveness amid fuel shortages, air attacks, and superior Allied forces. In the final weeks of the war he briefly commanded the 11. Armee. The Schwerter recognized his sustained high-level command, resilience, and tactical competence in these desperate late-war battles. News of the award reached him after his capture.
Otto Hitzfeld's nomination was rejected by Major Joachim Domaschk on 30 April 1945 and commented: "This is not a nomination!" (Only leadership and organisational achievements, no personal bravery) he additionally noted: "missing in cauldron AOK 11". The nomination was thus assessed as insufficient as well as postponed according to AHA 44 Ziff. 572 (Allgemeines Heeresamt — General Army Office). The entry date noted on the nomination list for the higher grades of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross is 28 April 1945. The list indicates a note "deferred". The approval cannot be proven. The order commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (OdR) handled the case in 1981 and decided: Swords yes, 9 May 1945. The OdR claims that the award was presented in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The sequential number "158" and presentation date was assigned by the OdR. Hitzfeld was a member of the OdR.
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Otto Maximilian Hitzfeld was a German general during World War II who rose through the ranks from a teenage war volunteer in World War I to commanding general of an army corps in the final months of the conflict. Born on 7 May 1898 in Schluchsee-Blasiwald in the district of Waldshut, Baden, in the German Empire, he came from a family with a teaching background, his father Georg serving as a head teacher and his mother Josefine née Zäts raising the children in a Roman Catholic household. Hitzfeld earned the nickname Der Löwe von Sewastopol for his determined leadership during the intense fighting in the Crimea. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords and later became known as the uncle of the renowned football manager Ottmar Hitzfeld. After the war he lived quietly in Dossenheim, working in industry and writing memoirs about his experiences as an infantryman in two world wars until his death on 6 December 1990 at the age of 92.
Hitzfeld volunteered for military service on 18 January 1915 at the age of sixteen, joining the replacement battalion of the 7th Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 142. He quickly advanced through the junior ranks, becoming a Fahnenjunker in April 1915, a Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier the following month, a Fähnrich in September 1915, and a Leutnant in February 1916. Serving on the western front, he functioned as an adjutant and company leader, participating in trench warfare and assault operations while suffering wounds that earned him the Iron Cross second and first class along with the Wound Badge in silver. After the armistice he remained in the Reichswehr, holding various staff, signals, and adjutant positions, steadily climbing the promotion ladder through the interwar years with postings that included instructor duties at the Kriegsschule Dresden where he taught tactics and military history.
At the outbreak of World War II Hitzfeld commanded the third battalion of Infanterie-Regiment 158 during the western campaign. He later assumed command of Infanterie-Regiment 593 and then Infanterie-Regiment 213 within the 73rd Infantry Division on the eastern front. His regiment became heavily engaged in the drive into the Crimea in the autumn of 1941. On 24 and 25 September that year, during the assault on the heavily fortified Perekop Isthmus, Hitzfeld directed the main effort of his division against the Chervonyi Chaban State Farm strongpoint. Under devastating Soviet artillery, machine-gun fire, and through extensive minefields and barbed wire obstacles, his troops, supported by pioneers and assault groups using flamethrowers and close combat, breached the outer defenses. They fought their way forward to the ancient Tatar Ditch and Wall itself, overcoming bunker positions in bitter hand-to-hand fighting despite the loss of several company commanders. This bold penetration triggered the collapse of adjacent Soviet lines, allowing the capture of Armyansk in house-to-house combat and opening the gateway to the entire Crimean peninsula. For this decisive leadership and personal courage under fire Hitzfeld received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 October 1941 as an Oberstleutnant.
During the harsh winter of 1941-1942 Hitzfeld's regiment continued to distinguish itself in defensive battles across the Crimea against repeated large-scale Soviet assaults. In mid-January 1942 he led Kampfgruppe Hitzfeld, reinforced with artillery, antitank guns, and assault guns, in a swift counterattack to recapture Feodosia following a Soviet amphibious landing. Launching the operation at dawn on 15 January with the benefit of surprise, air support, and coordinated fire, his forces overran Soviet ridge positions west of the town, routing elements of the Soviet 44th Army and securing dominant heights that disrupted further enemy reinforcements. The rapid advance stabilized the German line in the sector and contributed significantly to the overall defensive success in the winter fighting. These actions earned him the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross on 17 January 1942 as the 65th recipient, by which time he had been promoted to Oberst.
Hitzfeld was wounded for the fifth time near Krasnodar in August 1942 and spent time recovering before taking command of the 102nd Infantry Division in early 1943, rising to Generalmajor in April and Generalleutnant in November of that year. After a period commanding the infantry school at Döberitz he returned to frontline duty in late 1944 as commander of LXVII Army Corps. He led the corps during the northern sector operations of the Ardennes Offensive in the Battle of the Bulge, conducting determined attacks and holding actions in severe winter conditions against strong American forces despite shortages of fuel and overwhelming Allied air superiority. Promoted to General der Infanterie on 1 March 1945, he briefly commanded the 11th Army and made the difficult decision to declare Göttingen an open city to protect the civilian population and refugees flooding the area. Captured by American forces on 19 April 1945, he was released from captivity on 12 May 1947. News of his award of the Swords to the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves as the 158th recipient reached him after the war.
In the postwar years Hitzfeld lived a civilian life in Dossenheim, Baden-Württemberg, where he worked as a department director in a chemical factory. He contributed historical accounts of his corps operations during the Ardennes campaign to American military historians and published personal memoirs reflecting on his long service across both world wars. His career exemplified the experiences of many professional German infantry officers who fought with determination from the trenches of 1914-1918 through the mobile and attritional campaigns of 1939-1945.
Source:
Fellgiebel, W.P., Elite of the Third Reich
Kursietis, A.J., The Wehrmacht at War 1939-1945
Thomas, Franz & Wegmann, Günter, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945
Hitzfeld, Otto, Als Infanterist in zwei Weltkriegen (memoirs)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Hitzfeld
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/34593/Hitzfeld-Otto-Maximilian.htm
https://ww2gravestone.com/people/hitzfeld-otto-maximillian/
http://www.geocities.ws/orion47.geo/WEHRMACHT/HEER/General/HITZFELD_OTTO.html (archived)
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/
https://rk.balsi.de/
https://www.geni.com/
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