Georg-Robert Besslein
Encyclopedia
Georg Robert Besslein was a Obersturmbannführer
(Senior Storm Unit Leader/Lieutenant Colonel) in the Waffen SS during World War II
. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II.
. He joined the Hitler Youth
on 18 October 1931 and the NSDAP and the SS in 1933. His first SS posting was to the 4th Company, SS Standarte 29, but he trained with the German Army's II.Battalion, Infantry Regiment 19 which was stationed in Augsburg
in the evenings.
In November 1933, he moved to Munich
and attended a NCO
s course with the Bavaria
n Police department until March 1934. He was then sent to the SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz
in April. He graduated the following April and was promoted to Untersturmführer
(Second Lieutenant) and was posted to command a platoon in the 13th (Infantry Gun) Company, SS Regiment Deutschland
. He was later given command of a platoon in the 19th (Machine Gun) Company in November 1937.
In July 1938, he was made the Adjutant
of the Bavarian State Minister Gauleiter
Wagner. He returned to the SSDeutschland in November 1938, as the Adjutant of the III.Battalion. In 1939, he took part in the invasion of Czechoslovakia
, as the commander of the 13th Company, SS Deutschland. He was promoted to Hauptsturmführer
(Captain) on the 1 September 1939.
II class at the end of September. In February 1940, he was posted onto the staff of the II.Battalion of the Artillery Reserve Regiment back again in Munich
. He served with the Artillery Reserve during the Battle of France
and in December 1940, was posted to the Waffen SS Administration Department.
In May 1941 he took part in the Invasion of the Balkans
(Operation Marita) and in June returned to the SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz as a staff instructor. In February 1942, he was posted to the SS Infantry Reserve Battalion Germania
as the commander of the Infantry Gun Company.
Promoted to Sturmbannführer
(Storm Unit Leader/Major) in January 1943, he was given command of the SS Infantry Gun Reserve Battalion 1, in April and in August took over command of the SS Panzergrenadier
school.
He remained at the SS Panzergrenadier school until taking over command of the SS Fortress Regiment 1
in January 1945.
As the Commander of the SS Fortress Regiment 1, he was involved in the Siege of Breslau encircled by the Red Army
for 82 days, the garrison held out until 6 May 1945. During this time Besslein was awarded the Iron Cross I class and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
(April 30, 1945) and also promoted to Obersturmbannführer
(Senior Storm Unit Leader/Lieutenant Colonel).
.
Obersturmbannführer
Obersturmbannführer was a paramilitary Nazi Party rank used by both the SA and the SS. It was created in May 1933 to fill the need for an additional field grade officer rank above Sturmbannführer as the SA expanded. It became an SS rank at the same time...
(Senior Storm Unit Leader/Lieutenant Colonel) in the Waffen SS during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II.
Early life
Georg Robert Besslein was born on 14 December 1911 in AugsburgAugsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
. He joined the Hitler Youth
Hitler Youth
The Hitler Youth was a paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party. It existed from 1922 to 1945. The HJ was the second oldest paramilitary Nazi group, founded one year after its adult counterpart, the Sturmabteilung...
on 18 October 1931 and the NSDAP and the SS in 1933. His first SS posting was to the 4th Company, SS Standarte 29, but he trained with the German Army's II.Battalion, Infantry Regiment 19 which was stationed in Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
in the evenings.
In November 1933, he moved to Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and attended a NCO
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
s course with the Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n Police department until March 1934. He was then sent to the SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz
SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz
SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz was the officers' training school for the Waffen-SS. It was the SS equivalent of Britain's Sandhurst and the USA's West Point. The school was established in 1937, in the town of Bad Tölz which is about 30 miles south of Munich and the location was seemingly chosen because...
in April. He graduated the following April and was promoted to Untersturmführer
Untersturmführer
Untersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the German Schutzstaffel first created in July 1934. The rank can trace its origins to the older SA rank of Sturmführer which had existed since the founding of the SA in 1921...
(Second Lieutenant) and was posted to command a platoon in the 13th (Infantry Gun) Company, SS Regiment Deutschland
Deutschland
Deutschland is the German language word for Germany.Deutschland may also refer to:, a blockade-breaking German cargo submarine used during World War I, first of the 1930s Panzerschiffe , later renamed Lützow; involved in the 1937 Deutschland incident, a steamship wrecked in 1875 and commemorated in...
. He was later given command of a platoon in the 19th (Machine Gun) Company in November 1937.
In July 1938, he was made the Adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
of the Bavarian State Minister Gauleiter
Gauleiter
A Gauleiter was the party leader of a regional branch of the NSDAP or the head of a Gau or of a Reichsgau.-Creation and Early Usage:...
Wagner. He returned to the SSDeutschland in November 1938, as the Adjutant of the III.Battalion. In 1939, he took part in the invasion of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, as the commander of the 13th Company, SS Deutschland. He was promoted to Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...
(Captain) on the 1 September 1939.
World War II
The newly promoted Hauptsturmführer Besslein, took part in the Polish Campaign and was awarded the Iron CrossIron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
II class at the end of September. In February 1940, he was posted onto the staff of the II.Battalion of the Artillery Reserve Regiment back again in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. He served with the Artillery Reserve during the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
and in December 1940, was posted to the Waffen SS Administration Department.
In May 1941 he took part in the Invasion of the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
(Operation Marita) and in June returned to the SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz as a staff instructor. In February 1942, he was posted to the SS Infantry Reserve Battalion Germania
Germania
Germania was the Greek and Roman geographical term for the geographical regions inhabited by mainly by peoples considered to be Germani. It was most often used to refer especially to the east of the Rhine and north of the Danube...
as the commander of the Infantry Gun Company.
Promoted to Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party equivalent to major, used both in the Sturmabteilung and the Schutzstaffel...
(Storm Unit Leader/Major) in January 1943, he was given command of the SS Infantry Gun Reserve Battalion 1, in April and in August took over command of the SS Panzergrenadier
Panzergrenadier
is a German term for motorised or mechanized infantry, as introduced during World War II. It is used in the armies of Austria, Chile, Germany and Switzerland.-Forerunners:...
school.
He remained at the SS Panzergrenadier school until taking over command of the SS Fortress Regiment 1
SS Fortress Regiment 1
SS Fortress Regiment 1 was an improvised unit of the Waffen SS formed in February 1945, during World War II, for service in the defence of Breslau, during the Red Army's Siege of Breslau...
in January 1945.
As the Commander of the SS Fortress Regiment 1, he was involved in the Siege of Breslau encircled by the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
for 82 days, the garrison held out until 6 May 1945. During this time Besslein was awarded the Iron Cross I class and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
(April 30, 1945) and also promoted to Obersturmbannführer
Obersturmbannführer
Obersturmbannführer was a paramilitary Nazi Party rank used by both the SA and the SS. It was created in May 1933 to fill the need for an additional field grade officer rank above Sturmbannführer as the SA expanded. It became an SS rank at the same time...
(Senior Storm Unit Leader/Lieutenant Colonel).
Post war
Besslein surrendered with the rest of the Breslau garrison on the 6 May 1945, he remained in Soviet captivity until October 1955. Georg Robert Besslein died on 27 April 1993 in HeidelbergHeidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
.