Joachim Ziegler

Joachim Ziegler
Born 2 October 1904
Hanau
Died 2 May 1945 (aged 40)
Berlin
Allegiance Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
Service/branch Waffen SS
Years of service 1931–45
Rank SS-Brigadeführer
Unit 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland
Battles/wars
Awards

Joachim Ziegler (2 October 1904 – 2 May 1945) was born in Hanau in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis, in Hesse, Germany. Ziegler rose to the rank of SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was the commander of the 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland, and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II, the Oak Leaves being a second award.

Career

Ziegler was awarded the Spanish Cross for his participation in the Spanish Civil War, fighting in the Condor Legion. In 1939 he served as the adjutant in the 3rd Panzer Brigade and on 23 September 1939 he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class followed by a 1st class award on 28 June 1940.[1] On 14 March 1943 he was promoted to Oberst and served on the General Staff of the XXXXII Army Corps. He was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 15 March 1943 and later was invited by the Wehrmacht to a command position in the Waffen-SS. His SS number was 491,403.[1] From 20 June 1943 Ziegler was the Chief of General Staff of the III (Germanic) SS Panzer Corps, and in November 1943 he was granted permission to wear an SS uniform for the duration of his command.

When Fritz von Scholz was killed in action on 28 July 1944, he was asked to take over command of the 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland. On 5 September 1944 he was awarded the Knights Cross for the conduct of the division in action and the Oakleaves in April 1945.[1]

During the Battle of Berlin, SS-Brigadeführer Gustav Krukenberg was appointed on 25 April 1945 the commander of (Berlin) Defence Sector C which included the Nordland Division. Ziegler was relieved of his command of Nordland the same day. The exact reason for the transfer of the Nordland command is not clearly known.[2] It was requested by General Helmuth Weidling.[3]

After Hitler's death Krukenberg assembled most of his escort made up of French volunteers of the SS Charlemagne Division for the breakout of Berlin. They joined up with Ziegler and a larger group of Nordland troops. They crossed the Spree just before dawn. Near the Gesundbrunnen U-Bahn station they came under heavy fire and Ziegler was gravely wounded. Ziegler died from his wounds on 2 May 1945.[4]

Awards

Notes

  1. ↑ The sequential numbers greater than 843 for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves are unofficial and were assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) and are therefore denoted in parentheses.[7]

References

Citations
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Ailsby 1997, p. 186.
  2. ↑ Beevor 2002, pp. 301, 302.
  3. ↑ Beevor 2002, p. 291.
  4. ↑ Beevor 2002, p. 383.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Thomas 1998, p. 472.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Scherzer 2007, p. 805.
  7. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 102–111.
Bibliography
  • Ailsby, Christopher (1997). SS: Roll of Infamy. Motorbooks Intl. ISBN 0760304092.
  • Beevor, Antony (2002). Berlin: The Downfall 1945, Viking-Penguin Books. ISBN 0-670-88695-5.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Krätschmer, Ernst-Günther (1999). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Waffen-SS [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Waffen-SS]. Coburg, Germany: Nation Europa Verlag. ISBN 978-3-920677-43-9.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.
Military offices
Preceded by
SS-Gruppenführer Fritz von Scholz		 Commander of 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Nordland"
27 July 1944 - 25 April 1945 		Succeeded by
SS-Brigadeführer Gustav Krukenberg