Fritz Witt
Date of Birth: 27.05.1908 - Hohenlimburg, Nordrhein-Westfalen (German Empire)
Date of Death: 14.06.1944 - Caen-Venoix, Normandy (France)
NSDAP Nr.: 816 769 (01.12.1931)
SS Nr.: 21 518 (01.12.1932)
Brother: Franz Witt (21.09.1913 - 10.04.1941)
Promotions:
17.03.1933 SS-Truppführer
03.09.1933 SS-Haupttruppführer
01.10.1933 SS-Sturmführer
09.05.1934 SS-Obersturmführer
01.06.1935 SS-Hauptsturmführer
17.05.1940 SS-Sturmbannführer
27.11.1941 SS-Obersturmbannführer
30.01.1943 SS-Standartenführer
01.07.1943 SS-Oberführer
20.04.1944 SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS
Career:
00.00.1925 - 00.06.1933 Salesman in textile industry
01.12.1931 - 17.03.1933 1.Sturm / II.Sturmbann / 30.SS-Standarte "Fritz Borawski"
17.03.1933 - 01.10.1933 SS-Stabswache "Berlin"
01.10.1933 - 12.01.1935 Zugführer in 2.Sturm / SS-Stabswache "Berlin"
12.01.1935 - 19.10.1939 Chef 3.Sturm / I.Sturmbann / SS-Standarte "Deutschland"
19.10.1939 - 16.10.1940 Kommandeur I.Sturmbann / SS-Standarte "Deutschland"
16.10.1940 - 26.03.1941 Kommandeur III.Bataillon / LSSAH
26.03.1941 - 01.07.1942 Kommandeur I.Bataillon / LSSAH
01.07.1942 - 24.06.1943 Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1 LSSAH
24.06.1943 - 14.06.1944 Kommandeur 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend"
Awards and Decorations:
00.00.193_ SS-Zivilabzeichen (Nr. 9667)
00.00.193_ Ehrendolch der SS
16.12.1935 Julleuchter der SS
00.00.193_ Ehrenwinkel für alte Kämpfer
01.12.1937 Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS
01.12.1937 Totenkopfring der SS01.12.1937 Deutsches Reichssportabzeichen in Bronze
01.12.1937 SA-Sportabzeichen in Bronze
01.03.1939 Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938 (Anschluss Medal)
22.05.1939 Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938 (Sudetenland Medal)
17.09.1939 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
26.09.1939 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.194_ Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Bronze
04.09.1940 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as SS-Sturmbannführer and Kommandeur I.Bataillon / SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Deutschland" / SS-Verfügungs-Division (based on the recommendation of Regimentskommandeur SS-Oberführer Felix Steiner, which then approved by the Divisionskommandeur SS-Gruppenführer Paul Hausser)
23.06.1941 SS-Dienstauszeichnungen 2. und 3.Stufe
08.02.1942 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
23.02.1942 Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze
04.09.1942 Medaille “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42” (Ostmedaille)
16.07.1942 Ordinul Steaua României Mare Ofițer (Order of the Star of Romania, Officer Class with Swords on the Ribbon of Military Virtue)
10.07.1942 Voenen Orden "Za Hrabrost" IV stepen 1 klas (Military Order for Bravery in War 4th Class, 1st Grade) Bulgaria
01.03.1943 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #200, as SS-Standartenführer and Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1 / SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"
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Fritz Witt (27 May 1908 – 14 June 1944) was born into the family of a merchant, Witt worked in the textile industry until he lost his job in June 1931. Witt joined the Nazi Party (NSDAP) (Nr. 816,769) in December 1931 and the SS (Nr. 21,518). In March 1933, Witt became a member of the SS-Stabswache Berlin, a bodyguard unit protecting Adolf Hitler. It was renamed to SS-Sonderkommando Berlin in September and in the following month, Witt was appointed a platoon leader. This unit was the nucleus of the later SS Division Leibstandarte (LSSAH). In January 1935, Witt was appointed company commander in the SS-Standarte Deutschland, a unit that later became part of the SS Division Das Reich.
Witt participated in the German Invasion of Poland in September 1939 as a member of the motorized infantry regiment Deutschland, which was subordinated to Panzer Division Kempf, a combined arms unit commanded by army General Werner Kempf. Witt's unit took part in the Battle of the Border and then in the fighting at Zakroczym, where men from Panzer Division Kempf committed the Massacre in Zakroczym on 28 September 1939. During the campaign, Witt was awarded both classes of the Iron Cross.
On 19 October 1939, Witt was appointed battalion commander in the SS-Regiment Deutschland, leading the battalion in the Battle of the Netherlands and the Battle of France. On 4 September 1940, Witt was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He was then transferred to the LSSAH on 16 October 1940 as battalion commander.
As a battalion commander in the LSSAH, Witt participated in the Battle of Greece (6–30 April 1941), the Axis invasion of the Allied Kingdom of Greece. On 11–12 April 1941, Witt's battalion participated in the assault on the Klidi Pass, sustaining heavy casualties in the attack. On 14 April 1941, the battalion fought against British forces in the Battle of Kleisoura Pass. Witt's brother, Franz, a member of the same unit, was killed during the fighting.
On 1 July 1943, Witt was promoted to SS-Oberführer and was appointed commander of the SS Division Hitlerjugend, the majority of its enlisted men were drawn from members of the Hitler Youth. His previous regimental command was given to Albert Frey. In the following months, Witt oversaw the formation and training of the division at Beverloo Camp, in occupied Belgium.
In expectation of the Allied invasion, the SS Panzer Hitlerjugend was transferred to France in March 1944. On 1 April 1944, elements of the division committed the Ascq massacre in Ascq, France. In command of those troops was Walter Hauck, a company commander in Hitlerjugend.
On 20 April 1944, Witt was promoted to SS-Brigadeführer. On 6 June 1944, the Western Allies launched the Invasion of Normandy. During the fighting in Normandy, Kurt Meyer, a regimental commander in Hitlerjugend, used the Ardenne Abbey for his regimental headquarters. On 7 June, members of the division under Kurt Meyer's command murdered Canadian POWs in what became known as the Ardenne Abbey massacre. When Witt learned about these crimes, he ordered an investigation and demanded a written report from Kurt Meyer.
On 14 June 1944, Witt was killed in action by a Royal Navy artillery barrage that hit the divisional command post at Venoix. He was initially buried at Venoix and later reinterred at Champigny-Saint-André German war cemetery, France.
SS-Sturmbannführer Fritz Witt in 1940.
SS-Obergruppenführer
und General der Waffen-SS Josef "Sepp" Dietrich (Kommandeur
SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler") pays a
visit to the headquarters of SS-Standartenführer Fritz Witt (Kommandeur
SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1 / SS-Panzergrenadier- Division
"Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler") at Olchowatka, Belgorod, near Kharkov,
in March 1943. Dietrich wore a sheepskin coat which had the official
name "Sous-vetementent en peau fourrée Modele 1938", with an added
collar, lace and zipper. Even so, it seems that the Divisionskommandeur
still felt the weather is too cold so he prepared a thicker fur coat
stored in the car seat, a stark contrast when compared to Witt who
looked quite comfortable even though he was only wearing a standard
uniform! Dietrich's trousers were of the stiefelhose, combined with the
Luftwaffe's Flieger-Pelztiefel (aviation boots) with a furry top. The
car used by Dietrich was of the Einheits-Pkw Horch 40 type with a very
low number plate (SS-502). In addition, jerrycans for spare gasoline
have been modified so that they can be attached to the side of the car.
This photo was taken by SS-Kriegsberichter Johan King, who accompanied
the Leibstandarte Division in the many heavy battles on the Eastern
Front in 1943 and 1944.
Source :
https://www.alamy.com/fritz-witt-1908-1944-ss-brigadefuehrer-of-the-12th-panzer-division-hitler-youth-image247136868.html?imageid=A3CE39F1-7D12-4169-8666-1C26AEFC54BB&p=291620&pn=1&searchId=bc547d82129a597cc8f8ddbd1122aa71&searchtype=0
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2016/08/ss-brigadefuhrer-fritz-witt-1908-1944.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Witt
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/offizier-dportr%C3%A4t-als-ss-standartenf%C3%BChrer1943-news-photo/541483763
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