Oskar Dirlewanger Fascist, SS Oberführer, died from beatings on the night of June 4-5 Date of Birth: 26.09.1895 Country: Germany

Biography of Oskar Dirlewanger

Oskar Dirlewanger was born on September 26, 1895, in Würzburg. He was known as an educated and incredibly brave individual, but he had serious flaws that made it impossible for him to live a normal life in society. He completed his service in World War I as an officer, receiving the Iron Cross of both classes. After the war, he continued his service in various units of the Volunteer Corps, but as a soldier.

When peace was established in Europe, Dirlewanger completed his university education and obtained a doctorate in philosophy. He joined the NSDAP in 1923 but was later expelled. He joined the NSDAP for the second time a year later and received party badge number 1,098,716. Dirlewanger first attracted attention in 1934 when he was accused of attempted rape, which resulted in him being permanently banned from teaching. He spent two years in prison and soon after his release, he was imprisoned again on similar charges.

While in a concentration camp, he contacted his old friend from the Volunteer Corps, Gottlob Berger, who was closely collaborating with Himmler in the SS. Berger decided to do everything possible for Dirlewanger, despite his two accusations of violence and his growing reputation as an alcoholic. Berger managed to appoint Dirlewanger to the Condor Legion in Spain. During his service, Dirlewanger was wounded three times and returned to Germany in 1939.

After his return from Spain, a commission of reserve officers of the Waffen-SS was convened at the initiative of Berger to determine Dirlewanger's future. According to Berger, Dirlewanger could only keep himself under control in military service. Berger also proposed using military service for the rehabilitation of criminals, starting with poachers. He believed that these people could be turned into good soldiers, primarily because they already had skills in handling weapons and experience in wooded areas. Their plan was to train them as a unit to fight partisan forces.

The history of the Dirlewanger Division began on June 15, 1940, when the Oranienburg Poacher Commando was formed. The team initially consisted of 84 individuals selected from the most capable volunteers. By September 1, 1940, the team had grown to 300 people, mainly recruited from concentration camps. The team was soon reorganized into the Dirlewanger SS-Sonder Battalion and relocated to Poland to combat partisans.

In 1942, the battalion arrived in Belarus and received permission to recruit foreign volunteers in occupied territories. The division was expanded to two battalions and mainly consisted of Russians, Ukrainians, and German soldiers who had committed crimes. The service in the Dirlewanger Division was considered a corrective measure, and after sufficient rehabilitation, soldiers would be returned to their previous positions.

The division participated in several anti-partisan operations in Russia and Belarus, suffering significant losses. Dirlewanger himself was wounded multiple times and received various military awards, including the Knight's Cross. In 1944, the division was reorganized into the 2nd SS-Sturmbrigade Dirlewanger and continued to participate in anti-partisan operations.

As the war progressed, the division faced desertion and misconduct issues. By the end of April 1945, the division had practically disintegrated, and the remaining soldiers surrendered to Soviet forces. Many of them were executed, while Dirlewanger himself was captured by Polish soldiers and died from injuries sustained during beatings on the night of June 4-5, 1945.

The division's history was marked by its controversial nature, recruitment of criminals, and its brutal actions against partisans and civilians. Dirlewanger's leadership and the Division's reputation remain highly controversial in history.