Carl Friedrich von Pückler-Burghauss

Carl Friedrich von Pückler-Burghauss
Born 7 October 1886
Friedland, German Empire
Died 12 May 1945 (aged 58)
near Čimelice, Czechoslovakia
Allegiance  German Empire
 Nazi Germany
Service/branch Waffen-SS
Rank SS-Gruppenführer and Generalleutnant of the Waffen-SS
Commands held 15th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Latvian)
Battles/wars World War I
World War II
Awards Iron Cross 1st Class with Clasp
Iron Cross 2nd Class with Clasp
War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords
Eastern Front Medal
War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords
Silesian Eagle 1st and 2nd class
Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
SS Honour Ring

Carl Friedrich Count of Pückler-Burghauss, Baron of Groditz (born October 7, 1886 in Friedland, Silesia (now Korfantów in Poland) d. 13 May 1945 in Čimelice, Czechoslovakia, today's Czech Republic) was a German politician and Waffen-SS officer in the rank of SS-Gruppenführer and Lieutenant General of the Waffen-SS and member of the German parliament during the Weimar Republic and also a writer, publishing works on hunting and travel.

Pückler-Burghauss began his military career as a second lieutenant in the infantry branch during the First World War and won the Iron Cross First and Second Classes. He left the army in 1919 as captain and served with Freikorps units until 1931 when he joined the Nazi Party and the SA and later SS.

Pückler-Burghauss was member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party und Officer of the Waffen-SS. Through year 1943 he was a commander of 15th Waffen-SS division on Eastern front and later was a chief of Waffen-SS units in Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.

After Nazi Germany capitulated on May 7, 1945 Pückler-Burghauss refused to surrender to the Soviets and attempted to move the troops under his command into the American occupation zone. The Americans had refused and after heavy fighting (see Battle of Slivice) he was forced to sign capitulation on the night of May 11/12. Shortly afterwards he committed suicide.

Personal life

On 20 May 1913, Pückler-Burghauss married Princess Olga Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg (1886–1955), the elder daughter of Prince Albert of Saxe-Altenburg and Princess Marie of Prussia, a great-niece of the German Emperor Wilhelm I. Princess Olga was closely related to the British and Swedish royal families via her maternal aunt, Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia who married Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, the third son of Queen Victoria. Her cousin was Princess Margaret, Crown Princess of Sweden.

Works

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
SS-Brigadeführer Peter Hansen
Commander of 15th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Latvian)
1 May 1943 – 17 February 1944
Succeeded by
SS-Oberführer Nikolaus Heilmann