Fritz Witt SS Brigadeführer and Major General of the SS troops. Date of Birth: 27.05.1908 Country: France

Biography of Fritz Witt

Fritz Witt was a German officer who served in the elite SS troops for a considerable amount of time. He was born on May 27, 1908, in Hohenlimburg, a suburb of Hagen, Germany. Coming from a well-off family, his father was involved in the textile trade. After completing school, Fritz joined the family business and worked as a textile salesman from 1925 to 1931.

During this time, he witnessed the rise of the Nazi Party and Adolf Hitler. Being sympathetic to the party's ideology, which he saw as a response to the chaos and poverty of the Weimar Republic, Witt became a dedicated supporter. On December 1, 1931, he joined the ranks of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) and the SS. By March 17, 1933, Witt was assigned to Berlin, where he became part of the elite SS-Stabswache, a unit consisting of 117 members. On October 1, he was promoted to the rank of Untersturmführer.

In May 1934, as an Obersturmführer, Witt took command of the third company of SS-Standarte Deutschland under the leadership of Felix Steiner. In March, his company was sent to Austria as part of the plan to unite Germany with Austria. Afterward, Standarte Deutschland was transformed into a motorized division, and Witt's company took part in the occupation of the Sudetenland.

With the outbreak of World War II on September 1, 1939, Witt's company primarily served as support for tank units in Werner Kempf's division and engaged in heavy fighting. For his bravery during the ten-day period, Witt was awarded the Iron Cross First and Second Class. In October, he was promoted to the rank of Hauptsturmführer and appointed as the commander of the 1st Battalion of the SS infantry regiment "Deutschland."

Witt's battalion participated in the French campaign, where he once again demonstrated his courage and leadership. On May 27, 1940, his battalion was attacked by 20 British "Matilda" tanks. Despite lacking any anti-tank weapons, Witt rallied his soldiers, who fought to the death, disabling nine tanks with grenades and improvised methods. His superior officer described Witt in his report as a young and strong leader who never retreated in the face of danger. For this tank battle, Witt was awarded the Knight's Cross on September 4, 1940. On October 1, he was appointed as the commander of the 3rd Battalion of the 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler."

Witt's battalion played a significant role in the "Marita" operation, the invasion of Greece. On April 10, 1941, the battalion was equipped with artillery and an 88mm anti-aircraft battery and renamed Kampfgruppe Witt. During three days of heavy fighting, Witt's battalion eliminated many enemies and captured 520 prisoners, while suffering 37 killed and 95 wounded. In August 1941, the battalion was redeployed for the advance on Kiev.

In November, Witt's battalion took part in intense battles for Rostov-on-Don. After capturing the city, the German forces faced continuous Soviet attacks during the winter, and they were forced to retreat to the Mius River area. In these harsh winter battles, Witt consistently boosted the morale of his soldiers. Witt was known for his impeccable appearance and was described as an officer with excellent discipline. On February 8, 1942, he was awarded the German Cross in Gold for his bravery in the battles for Rostov.

On June 23, 1943, Witt was appointed as the commander of the SS Division "Hitlerjugend" and led the division during the fighting in Normandy. However, on June 14, 1944, British naval artillery destroyed his command post in Veno, and Witt was killed instantly by shrapnel to the face.