Herbert Otto Gille

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Herbert Otto Gille.

Herbert Otto Gille (March 8, 1897 in Gandersheim - December 27, 1966) was a German general, and as a winner of the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds and of the German Cross in Gold, the most highly decorated member of the Waffen SS during World War II. By the end of the war he held the rank of SS-Obergruppenfuhrer und General der Waffen-SS

[edit] Military Career

Gille started his military career as a first lieutenant during the First World War serving in the artillery branch, winning the Iron Cross First and Second Classes. He left the army in 1919 and remained a civilian working in agriculture and as a car dealer until 1931 when he joined the Nazi Party and the SS. He married Sophie Charlotte Mennecke on 4 January 1935 and on 9 October 1935 his only child, a daughter, was born

In 1934 he was re-activated by the SS combat support forces. He became a Company Commander in Ellwangen, then a Battalion Commander of the SS regiment Germania in Arolsen . He later served as the commander of an artillery unit in Jueterbog . As the commander of the 1st Battalion of the SS-V Artillery Regiment Gille participated in the invasion of Poland and in the western campaign. In 1940 he took over the artillery regiment of the 5th SS "Wiking" Division, led by SS Obergruppenführer Felix Steiner.

After the assault on the Soviet Union, Gille, as a leader of an advance guard, reached the Kuban and received the Knight's Cross on 8 October 1942. Shortly thereafter he took over command of the Wiking Division (5th SS Panzer) on the Eastern Front. Early in 1944, Gille was instrumental in the withdrawal of his command and others of the encircled Group Stemmermann through "Hells Gate" during the Korsun cauldron disaster, also known as the Cherkassy Pocket. The Soviets greatly outnumbered the German forces but they failed to cut their retreat. Gille received the diamonds addition on 19 April 1944 to the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.

His troops stood strong on the East Prussia border with the SS Totenkopf Division (3rd SS Panzer) and prevented the planned Soviet breakthrough to Berlin in the autumn 1944. In January 1945 Gille, as leader of the IV SS Panzer Korps comprising the Totenkopf and Wiking divisions was sent to Hungary to attempt to relieve the encircled city of Budapest, however his troops were unable to break through to the city. In March 1945 he led IV SS Panzer Korps in the failed "Spring Awakening" offensive and following the Soviet counter-offensive his Korps was forced back into Austria.

When the end of war was clear, he marched towards the U.S. troops in order to avoid surrendering to Soviet forces. He was held by the US for three years, being released in May 1948.

Despite being an early Nazi Party member, Gille was known for his apolitical views. The author Heinz Höhne in The Order under the Death Head characterized Gille as an enigma and "Nur-Soldat" (soldier - nothing else) who once threatened a newly assigned Weltanschauungsoffizier (political indoctrination officer) to assign him a disrobing detail to get his Nazi Brownshirt removed.

Gille was highly regarded for his leadership qualities and tactical abilities, commanding Waffen-SS units at the regiment, division and corps level with distinction during the war. He was also admired for his personal bravery. Gille was popular with his men and was well-known for the unusual walking-stick he carried.

[edit] Post-War

After the war he worked for a newspaper until 1958. He also owned a small bookshop. Gille was the founder of a magazine for veterans of the Wiking division, "Wiking Ruf". On 26 December 1966 Herbert Otto Gille died of a heart attack in Stemmen, near Hanover.

Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds during World War II