Max Simon SS Gruppenführer and SS Lieutenant General Date of Birth: 06.01.1899 Country: Germany

1. Biography of Max Simon
2. Early Life and Military Service
3. Joining the Nazi Party and SS
4. Concentration Camp Service
5. Second World War
6. Later Military Career
7. Capture and Trial

Biography of Max Simon

Max Simon was a high-ranking officer in the SS and a general lieutenant in the SS troops from 1944. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves.

Early Life and Military Service

Max Simon served in the First World War as a non-commissioned officer and was wounded during his service. In 1919, he fought as part of a volunteer corps in Silesia against the Polish forces. After the war, Simon continued his military career in the Reichswehr, serving in a cavalry regiment. He achieved the rank of Feldwebel and retired from active service in 1929.

Joining the Nazi Party and SS

Following Hitler's rise to power, Max Simon joined the Nazi Party (membership number 1,359,576) and the SS (membership number 83,086) in May 1933. He served in the 47th SS Standarte, based in Gera, Thuringia.

Concentration Camp Service

From August to October 1934, Simon was the commandant of one of the first German concentration camps, Sachsenburg, located in Saxony. On November 9th, he was appointed as the commander of the SS guard at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. On September 15th, 1935, Simon was transferred to the 1st Standarte of the "Totenkopf" (Death's Head) units in Upper Bavaria, near the Dachau concentration camp. He became the commander of the 1st Sturmbann (battalion) from May 1st, 1937, and later the entire Standarte "Upper Bavaria" from July 10th.

Second World War

During the Polish Campaign, Simon participated and was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class in October 1939. He was then appointed as the commander of the 1st regiment of the division. From June 22nd, 1941, Simon fought as the commander of an infantry regiment in the "Totenkopf" division on the Eastern Front, specifically in Lithuania and Latvia. On July 8th, 1941, he was wounded, and on October 20th, he was promoted to the rank of Oberführer SS and awarded the Knight's Cross.

Later Military Career

From May 15th to October 22nd, 1943, Simon commanded the 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf". On October 3rd, while still commanding the division, he was appointed as the commanding officer of the newly forming 16th SS Panzergrenadier Division "Reichsführer SS" in Italy. From October 24th, 1944, to May 8th, 1945, Simon was the commanding officer of the XIII SS Corps. He participated in punitive operations against the Italians.

Capture and Trial

In May 1945, Max Simon surrendered to the British forces. He stood trial for his involvement in punitive operations in Italy and was sentenced to death by the British military tribunal in Padua on June 26th, 1947. However, his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. Simon was released in 1954. He passed away on February 1st, 1961, in Lünen near Dortmund.