Thomas Müller (SS officer)
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| Thomas Müller | |
|---|---|
| 2 February 1902 – | |
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| Place of birth | München |
| Allegiance | Germany |
| Service/branch |  Waffen-SS |
| Rank | Standartenführer |
| Commands held | 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen, 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen, 27. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division Langemarck |
| Awards | EKI ISz |
Thomas Müller (born February 2, 1902)[1] was a German Waffen - SS officer who commanded 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen,[1][2] 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen[1][3] and the 27. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division Langemarck during World War II.[1][4] He saw action on the East and the West, finishing the war on the Oder front.[1]
Müller was born in Munich, Bavaria on February 2, 1902.[1] Little is known about Müller during the early stages of the war.[1]
He assumed command of the 9th SS Panzer Division for a brief period stretching from June 29 to July 10, 1944—one of the bloodiest periods for the division as they tried to stem the incoming British and Canadian soldiers bound for Caen. The Panzer division took an unprecedented 1200 casualties during these weeks.
Following this, he briefly took command of a new division Hitler had ordered, the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division, which had been named for Götz von Berlichingen. He only controlled the group as a substitute leader for a brief period in September, after its previous commander, Eduard Deisenhofer, was wounded in fighting and ordered back to Berlin to rest and recuperate. He was replaced by Gustav Mertsch as another temporary commander and finally command passed to Hans Lingner.
Apparently then being transferred from the SS to the army, he became a Colonel and received command of the 6th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade Langemarck immediately following its promotion to a Division of its own, on October 19, 1944. This new Division was made possible due to the merging of the Brigade with new Flemish and Finnish volunteers that could be attached to the division.
The Langemarck acted primarily as support for the German Ardennes offensive, but following the Soviet campaign to capture the Oder River—realizing they couldn't hold out any longer, Müller give his troops the option to surrender to the Allies or try to evade capture on their own. After burning the Division's records, Müller and the majority of his men surrendered to the allies at Schwerin.
Contents |
[edit] Overview of his SS career
[edit] Dates of rank
- SS-Untersturmführer: September 11, 1934
- SS-Obersturmführer: June 1, 1935
- SS-Hauptsturmführer: November 11, 1936
- SS-Sturmbannführer: October 31, 1939
- SS-Obersturmbannführer: April 20, 1942
- SS-Standartenführer: June 21, 1943
[edit] Notable decorations
- Iron Cross Second (1940) and First (1940) Classes
- Infantry Assault Badge in Bronze (?)
[edit] References
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by SS-Obergruppenführer Wilhelm Bittrich |
Commander of 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen June 29, 1944 - July 10, 1944 |
Succeeded by SS-Brigadeführer Sylvester Stadler |
| Preceded by SS-Oberführer Eduard Deisenhofer |
Commander of 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen September 1944 - September 1944 |
Succeeded by SS-Standartenführer Gustav Mertsch |
| Preceded by SS-Sturmbannführer Eduard Deisenhofer |
Commander of 27. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division Langemarck October 1944 - May 2, 1945 |
Succeeded by surrendered on May 2, 1945 |
