[Der Untergang, Downfall] - Waffen SS figures
Felix Martin Julius Steiner
Felix Martin Julius Steiner was one of the initial founders of the Waffen SS.
Felix Steiner also contributed in in founding tactics and training routines that transformed the ‘eager but useless’ troopers into the deadly forces of the SS. Felix Steiner was a veteran of World War 1 and he was able to remain in the military despite the restraints of the Versailles Treaty.
He left the army as a major and he eventually joins the initial SS Verfügungstruppe(V-Truppe) which would later become the Waffen SS.
Felix Steiner incorporated ‘storm trooper tactics’, the first ever camouflaged uniforms, and training routines to the Waffen SS. Felix Steiner’s accomplishments and his achievements in later combat impressed Adolf Hitler, SS officials and even the German military.
Felix Steiner’s first unit in command was the “Deutschland V-Truppe unit”. Felix Steiner and his unit proved worthy during the invasion of Poland and the Invasion of France that differentiated them from the other poor performing V-Truppe units.
Heinrich Himmler and Adolf Hitler highly praised Steiner’s performance as his success was crucial for justifying the official establishment of the Waffen SS.
Felix Steiner himself disliked Heinrich Himmler from the beginning and even had personal disputes with Himmler himself. Towards the end of the war, Felix Steiner even agreed that Hitler and Nazi party were ruining Germany.
Felix Steiner was very vocal to his superiors but he was still passionate in developing the Waffen SS.
In 1940, Felix Steiner takes command of the newly established 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking which consisted of SS regiments Nordland (Norwegians and Danish volunteers), Westland (Flemish and Dutch), and Germania (an initial SS Verfügungstruppe unit).
Under command of Ewald von Kleist’s Panzer Group 1, Felix Steiner and the 5th SS division Wiking participates in Operation Barbarossa, which was the invasion of the Soviet Union.
Soon after the initiation of Operation Barbarossa, even the German military were impressed of the performance of the combat competent 5th SS division Wiking.
In 1943, Felix Steiner was appointed commander of the 3rd (Germanisches) SS Panzer Corps, which consisted of Wiking, the 11th SS Nordland division which similarity consists of foreigner volunteers, and scraps of army and Luftwaffe (air force) ground units.
Steiner’s 3rd SS Panzer Corps would participate in the Yugoslavian partisan conquest and later on transferred to the Leningrad line under the command of Army Group North.[1]
During the middle of 1944, the Red Army launched Operation Bagration as revenge of Operation Barbarossa which would obliterate Army Group Center that was the essence of Germany’s eastern front. Army Group North was also forced to retreat from the Leningrad fronts further west by the advance of the Soviet Union’s 1st Baltic Front.
Steiner and the 3rd SS Panzer Corps participated in the battle of Narva and the battle of the Tannenberg Line (Usually this refers to the battle during World War 1) trying to halt the Soviet Union’s advance as much as possible.
However, the Soviet Union’s Baltic Sea campaigns trapped Army Group North in the Courland Pocket in Latvia and Estonia.
Felix Steiner and the remnants of his units were shipped from the Courland pocket and named commander of the 11th Army which was a force that existed only by papers.
Initially, in January of 1945, Steiner and the 11th Army were part of Army Group Vistula under general Gotthard Heinrici’s command. The 11th Army’s task was to defend the Pomerania region.
However, as of February 1945, Felix Steiner was ordered to attack Georgy Zukhov’s 1st Belourssian Front’s spearhead. Despite some limited success, his forces were forced to retreat by the Red Army.
During March of 1945, most of Steiner’s forces were transferred to other units and the 11th Army was disabled.
However as of 21 April 1945, when the Soviet Union’s started to directly pound on Berlin, Adolf Hitler orders Felix Steiner to relief Berlin and named Felix Steiner the commander of Army Group Steiner which consisted of 10,000 men from scraps of depleted units.
Felix Steiner refused Hitler’s orders and claimed that the attack is a meaningless suicide mission. Adolf Hitler may have had immense hope on Steiner because of his competency and contribution to the Waffen SS.
However, Hitler eventually gave up around 27 April 1945 and must have known for sure that he was doomed. Felix Steiner knew the consequences of being captured by the Soviet Union.
He led his men west and surrendered to the USA forces. Felix Steiner was put on court during the Nuremberg Trials by the International Military Tribunal; however, his charges were dropped.
Felix Steiner would work with the CIA regarding securities in Western Germany. He was an active founder of the Waffen SS Veteran’s Association (HIAG) trying to defend the Waffen SS which caused dispute.[2]
Wilhelm Mohnke
Wilhelm Mohnke joined the SS in 1931 and he eventually joins the Leibstandarte(LSSAH) which was the bodyguard group that directly guarded Adolf Hitler.
He was an early member of the SS and he one of Adolf Hitler’s closest companions. Wilhelm Mohnke would later participate in military operations of the SS.
He participated in the invasion of Poland as a part of the LSSAH detachment to the SS Verfügungstruppe(V-Truppe) that would later become the Waffen SS.
In 1939, the Waffen SS diverged from the general SS and Wilhelm Mohnke became part of the 1st SS division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH) of the Waffen SS.
Wilhelm Mohnke takes part in the invasion of France with the LSSAH. He was responsible for war crimes such as the massacre of 80 British prisoners in Wormhoudt, France. [3]
Mohnke participated in the invasion of Yugoslavia but on the very first day of the Yugoslavian campaigns, he was severely injured by a Yugoslavian air raid which took almost a year to recover before he could return for combat.
In 1943, Wilhelm Mohnke was named a regiment leader (26th SS regiment) of the newly established 12th SS Hitlerjugend. Wilhelm Mohnke and his Hitlerjugend regiment fought during the Allied Forces landing on Normandy. [4] He led his regiment in the fearsome battles of Caen.
After Mohnke and his regiment barely escapes from the Falaise pocket, he became the division commander of the 1st SS division LSSAH. He led the 1st SS LSSAH division during the battle of the Bulge.
He was responsible for the infamous Malmedy Massacre where 72 US soldiers were murdered despite their surrender as division commander. However the US Department of justice stated that there is evidence that Mohnke had some responsibility for the Malmedy Massacre though he was not present at the site.
After the miserable defeat of the battle of the bulge, Mohnke led the LSSAH with battles with the Allied Forces but he was wounded again by an air raid and had to seek recovery. As Wilhelm Mohnke recovered, Berlin was already in a dire situation. Mohnke was appointed commander of the defen
se of the Fuhrer’s bunker and Reich Chancellery as he was a hardened veteran and a loyalist to Adolf Hitler. He led a small unit named Kampfgruppe Mohnke which consisted of about 2,000 men.
After the collapse of the 3rd Reich, Mohnke was caught by the Red Army and served a total of 10years in the Soviet Union and was released in 1955.
Hermann Fegelein
Hermann Fegelein’s father owned an equestrian (horse riding) school where Fegelein initially learned proficient Equestrianism.
Hermann Fegelein meets with Christian Weber who was one of Adolf Hitler’s closest political companions. Christian Weber always stood front for Adolf Hitler during incidents such as the Beer Hall Putsch and Night of the Long Knives.
He was a fanatic in Equestrianism and would later sponsor Hermann Fegelein to join the SS and escalate through the ranks.
Hermann Fegelein officialy joins the Nazi party in 1930 and transfers to the SS in 1933. He rapidly became a favorite of Heinrich Himmler as well.
Fegelein would take positions such as the Rieter-SS which was a cavalry brigade for the SS and he would open equestrian events for the 1936 Berlin Olympics as well.
In 1939, Hermann Fegelein becomes the commander of the SS Totenkopf Reiterstandarte (Deaths-Head Horse Regiment) which was a cavalry unit and participate in the Invasion of Poland.
He was responsible for the murder of thousands of civilians (Jewish and Polish) including the Palmiry massacre (also known as the Kampinos forest massacre).
Hermann Fegelein and his units supported ‘policing’ for the SS. He was a major criminal that should have been trialed for the Holocaust, the death of numerous civilians and crimes against Humanity.
Under Himmler’s support, Fegelein also participates in Operation Barbarossa to support the extermination of Jews, partisans, and civilians in Belarus. He was responsible for the murder of tens of thousands innocent people by 1942.
In early 1943, Hermann Fegelein became the division commander of the 8th SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer. His division would become responsible for ruthless scorched earth tactics, inhumane extermination operations on partisans and civilians, and policing activities.
In late of 1943, Hermann Fegelein is pulled over from the front lines and appointed as Henirch Himmler’s SS liaison officer to Adolf Hitler.
In 1944, Hermann Fegelein marries Gretl Braun who was the sister of Adolf Hitler’s lover Eva Braun.
As Fegelein was known for his disgusting desire for women, many assumed that Fegelein married Great for his chance to become the brother-in-law with Adolf Hitler. Hermann Fegelein was disgusted by other members close to Adolf Hitler.
Adolf Speer, Heinz Linge and the military adjuvants all despaired him for his lack of loyalty, lack of work and his flirty manners with the women in office.
Hermann Fegelein was present during Claus von Stuaffenberg’s Hitler assassination attempt and he was one of those that hunted down the ‘traitors’.
During the very final days of the 3rd Reich, Hitler discovered that Hermann Fegelein’s absence despite his duties as Henirch Himmler’s SS liaison officer for him.
Already, Hitler was in a frenzy due to the treacherous actions of Herman Göring. As the suspicious actions of Fegelein were reported, Hitler ordered to arrest Fegelein.
On 27th of April 1945, Hermann Fegelein was arrested with evidence of Himmler and Fegelein’s negotiation attempts with the Allied Forces in the West. Adolf Hitler was furious on Himmler and Fegelein daring to negotiate with the Allied Forces behind his back.
Despite Eva Braun’s desperate request to spare her brother-in-law for her sister Gretl Braun, Adolf Hitler ordered an immediate execution on Hermann Fegelein. He was executed in the 28th of April 1945.
Otto Günsche
Otto Günsche joined the Nazi party in 1934 as he volunteered for the LSSAH. He first met with Adolf Hitler in 1936 and he became the SS adjutant to Adolf Hitler.
Otto Günsche would manage schedule, inform the offices prior to Adolf Hitler’s arrival, manage tasks for Hitler’s schedule and even inspect his food for poisoning.
Otto Günsche became one of the closest people to Adolf Hitler as he successfully managed tasks.
After he attended the SS officer academy, he served in the 1st SS division LSSAH leading a panzer grenadier company in the eastern front.
However, after Günsche sought some combat experience as a part of the LSSAH, he became the ‘personal adjutant’(Persönlicher Adjutant) to Adolf Hitler again in March 1944.
Otto Günsche was present during the bomb explosion by Claus von Stauffenberg’s assassination attempt of Adolf Hitler and he was severely injured as well with his eardrums busted.
As Persönlicher Adjutant, Otto Günsche not only personally bodyguarded Hitler in close proximity but also with Heinz Linge took care of the personal and public matters of Adolf Hitler and his loved Eva Braun. At the final end, Hitler would personally ask Günsche to take care of his and Eva’s end as well.
Otto Günsche would ask Erich Kempka, who was Hitler’s Chauffeur(driver) to prepare petroleum so the Red Army would never have the chance to violate Hitler’s body.
As a top priority asset by the Soviet Union, Otto Günsche was captured by the Red Army. He was interrogated and imprisoned in Moscow. He was released in 1956 and lived until 2003.
Heinz Linge
Heinz Linge joined he Schutzstaffel (SS) in 1933 as part of the LSSAH (Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler) which was initailly a bodyguard unit for Adolf Hitler.
Later on, the SS diverges to the general (Algemieine) SS and the Waffen SS. Later on, the LSSAH would become the 1st Waffen SS division LSSAH while it still had Adolf Hitler’s body guard attached to it as a unit.
Heniz Linge was part of the LSSAH bodyguard unit and he served as Hitler’s household staff as a personal valet to him in 1935. Later on, he took charge of managing all tasks of the household staff from maids to secretaries.
The staff were subordinate to him and he was well respected for his good manners.
As one of Adolf Hitler’s trusted companion and loyal valet, Heinz Linge has served Adolf Hitler at the closest proximity for almost 10 years.
Before meeting with Adolf Hitler, staff of the military or governmental officials would consult with Heinz Linge on the best time to deliver news as Heinz Linge was competent enough to advise on such information.
After Adolf Hitler’s suicide, Heinz Linge was the first person ever to confirm and announce Hitler’s death officially as well.
The Soviet Union captures Heinz Linge and shipped him immediately to Moscow as he was a high value asset that knew the most personal aspects of Adolf Hitler.
The Soviet Union was eager to verify Hitler’s death as well as they thought it was a part of a conspiracy. The Soviet Union didn’t believe the death of Adolf Hitler and tortured Heinz Linge to confess Hitler’s death was sincerely true.
Heinz Linge was severely tortured and kept in captivity until 1955 where he was released after a general amnesty. Heinz Linge wrote his memoir With Hitler to the End .
Erich Kempka
Erich Kempka was an early member of the Nazi party joining in 1930. He became a member of the SS in 1932 and joined the household staff of Adolf Hitler as his chauffeur(driver).
Kempka drove Hitler’s Mercedces along with Hitler’s top members of the Nazi Party. Kempka recalled that Otto Günsche called him out of nowhere for 200 liters of petroleum which frustrated him during the desperate situation in his memoir.
But soon after, he would realize why even 20,000 liters of petroleum wouldn’t been enough as he realizes the petroleum was used to burn the cropses of the Führer and his lover.
Erich Kempka escaped with members like Heinz Linge but they scattered during their escape from Berlin. Luckily, Kempka was caught by the United States army and released in 1947.
He would write his memoir ‘I Was Hitler's Chauffeur: The Memoirs of Erich Kempka’ and would live up to 1975.
[1] Fitzgerald, Clare, and Clare Fitzgerald Clare Fitzgerald is a Writer and Editor with eight years of experience in the online content sphere. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from King’s University College at Western University. “Felix Steiner: The SS General Who Turned against Hitler.” Warhistoryonline, 24 June 2021, https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/felix-steiner.html?chrome=1.
[4] “Wilhelm Mohnke.” Liberation Route Europe, https://www.liberationroute.com/stories/213/wilhelm-mohnke.
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