Hans Georg Otto Hermann Fegelein (1906 - 1945)

Born 30 Oct 1906 in Ansbach, Bavaria

Ancestors

Died 28 Apr 1945 at age 38 in Berlin, Germany

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Biography

Hermann Fegelein was born in Ansbach, Bavaria, on 30th October, 1906. As a young man he worked on his father's equestrian school in Munich, he became proficient in riding skills and participated in jumping events. During this period he met Christian Weber, an original member of the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP). Weber later sponsored Fegelein for entry into the Schutzstaffel (SS). With Weber as his patron, Fegelein rose to a high level in the Nazi hierarchy.

In 1934 Fegelein was appointed as head of the Reiter-SS, a mounted cavalry brigade. Fegelein oversaw the preparation of the courses and facilities for the equestrian events of the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936. The following year Himmler appointed Fegelein the head of the Haupt-Reitschule München in Munich.

In September 1939, Fegelein was placed in command of the SS Totenkopf Reiterstandarte (Deaths-Head Horse Regiment) that took part in the invasion of Poland. Based in Warsaw Fegelin's unit dealt with the resistance movement. According to Michael D. Miller, the author of Leaders of the SS and German Police (2002), on 7th December, 1939, Fegelein's regiment was involved in the mass shooting of 1,700 people in the Kampinos Forest.

On 9th March 1940, Himmler received information from the Gestapo alleging that Fegelein had sent goods looted in Poland back to SS cavalry school in Riem, from where many items had found their way to members' homes. A search of the school had disclosed "a lorry, a six-cylinder Mercedes trimmed in black, another in dark brown, a two-seater Stoda cabriolet, 50 lb of coffee, fourteen packets of cocoa, a chest of tea, two chests of chocolate, clothes, fur and other goods". Fegelein told Himmler that he was the victim of a persecution campaign by Karl von Eberstein.

Fegelein took part in Operation Barbarossa and in July 1941 Himmler assigned Fegelein's regiment to round up and exterminate Jews, partisans, and civilians in Belarusia. According to the author of Leaders of the SS and German Police (2002) Fegelein's unit initially killed 13,788 Jews and in August another 3,500 men were murdered. Himmler rewarded Fegelein by promoting him to the rank of SS-Oberfuehrer (brigadier general).

Fegelein was wounded by snipers in the Red Army on 21st December 1941. After making a full recovery he was appointed commander of the 8th SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer and returned to service on the Eastern Front. After being wounded again on 30th October 1943, he was sent him to the Führer's headquarters to act as liaison officer for Himmler. Hitler's valet, Heinz Linge, argued: "Hermann Fegelein, Himmler's SS liaison officer to the Führer.. the highly decorated leader of a frontline SS cavalry division... was well protected in the circle around Hitler, to whom he was attracted as a moth to the light."

Eventually Fegelein married Eva Braun's sister, Gretl. Christa Schroeder, Hitler's secretary, claims that the marriage on 3rd June 1944, was arranged by Eva: "Greta Braun was, as one would say today, sexy, and Fegelein might have been thinking of the advantages of one day being Hitler's brother-in-law. Thus the marriage took place and was celebrated as a great occasion on the Obersalzberg and in the tea-house on the Kehlstein."

Claus von Stauffenberg decided to try and kill Hitler during a conference attended by Hitler on 20th July, 1944. Stauffenberg, who had never met Hitler before, carried the bomb in a briefcase and placed it on the floor while he left to make a phone-call. The bomb exploded killing four men in the hut. Hitler's right arm was badly injured but he survived the bomb blast. Fegelein received a minor wound to his left thigh from the bomb blast.

According to Traudl Junge: "Fegelein had been detailed to investigate the assassination attempt and track down the guilty men. He was personally indignant to think of anyone wanting to blow up such a splendid fellow as himself. I think he thought that was more criminal than any plan to get rid of Hitler, and he flung himself into the investigation with the zeal of his desire for revenge. Finally it became obvious even to Hitler that the resistance movement had spread more widely in the army than he had supposed. Distinguished names of men holding high rank were mentioned. He raged and shouted and said a great deal about traitors and scoundrels." It is claimed that Fegelein often showed around the photographs of the hanged men who had been executed as a result of this failed assassination attempt."

Hitler's chauffeur, Erich Kempka, claimed that on 27th April 1945 Hermann Fegelein contacted him with a strange request: "Hermann Fegelein, phoned me to ask if I would put at his disposal two vehicles for a reconnaissance. Moreover he would be grateful if I would do him a personal favour. He wanted me to take care of a briefcase with important files belonging to the Reichsfuhrer-SS and himself. He would hand it to me personally towards ten that evening in the Fuhrer-bunker. It was essential to keep it safe and in the event that the enemy entered the bunker, the briefcase was to be hidden where it could never be found, or should be destroyed. Under no circumstances must it fall into enemy hands. As I had been on familiar terms with Fegelein for years and he enjoyed Hitler's fullest confidence as Eva Braun's brother-in-law, I had no hesitation in agreeing to his request. I had really no idea at that moment that my willingness to be of assistance to him was putting my own life in danger. A short while afterwards Fegelein left the Reich Chancellery with two vehicles I had had repaired. They were the last survivors to remain serviceable from my once great vehicle fleet. To my great surprise the two automobiles were returned thirty minutes later, although without Fegelein. The drivers told me that he had got out in the Kurfurstendamm district to proceed on foot."

When it was discovered that Fegelein had gone missing the Gestapo was sent out to find him. Heinz Linge recalled that "Fegelein's adjutant reported back to the bunker, he stated that Fegelein had gone to his private flat and dressed in civilian clothing. The adjutant had been ordered to do the same." He told Hitler that the purpose of this being "to allow the Russians to roll over us and then we will make our way through to Himmler". Hitler came to the conclusion that Fegelein was involved in some sort conspiracy against him.

On 27th April 1945, Fegelein was arrested with his mistress in his apartment. SS-Obersturmbannführer Peter Högl discovered him with a great deal of money and discovered that he was just about to leave the country. Högl also found a briefcase containing documents with evidence of an attempted peace negotiation with the Allies. The following day the negotiations that were taking place between Himmler and Count Folke Bernadotte were leaked to the press. Hanna Reitsch was with Hitler when he heard the news: "His colour rose to a heated red and his face was unrecognizable... After the lengthy outburst, Hitler sank into a stupor, and for a time the entire bunker was silent."

According to Heinz Linge: "Fegelein was returned under armed guard he made a poor impression: wearing gloves, a leather coat and a sporty hat he looked like a Kurfurstendamm dandy. On Hitler's order he was arraigned immediately before a court-martial and sentenced to death for treason. Eva Braun, though clearly fighting an internal struggle, would not enter a plea for mercy for her brother-in-law even though Hitler indicated that he would commute the sentence on the highly decorated SS-0bergruppenfuhrer to 'atonement at the front'. Towards midnight an SS squad awaited Fegelein in the Reich Chancellery Ehrenhof. He remained impassive as the sentence of the court martial was read out."

Traudl Junge has argued that Eva Braun had asked Hitler to spare Fegelein as his wife and her sister, was heavily pregnant: "I don't know just where I was when the news reached Hitler. He may have ranted and raged one last time, but when I saw him again he was as calm as before. Only Eva Braun's eyes were red with weeping, because her brother-in-law was condemned to death.... She had tried to explain to Hitler that it was only human nature for Fegelein to think of his wife and their child, and try to help them get through to a new life. But Hitler was implacable. All he saw was deceit and treachery."

Hermann Fegelein was executed on 28th April 1945.

Sources

• Junge, Traudi "To The Last Hour: Hitler's Last Secretary" (2002)
• Kempka, Erich "I Was Hitler's Chauffeur: The Memoirs of Erich Kempka" (1951)
• Linge, Heinz "With Hitler to the End" (1980)
• Schroeder, Christa " He Was My Chief: The Memoirs of Adolf Hitler's Secretary" (1985)
• http://spartacus-educational.com/Hermann_Fegelein.htm
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_Fegelein