Otto Wöhler

Otto Wöhler
Otto Wöhler
Born	12 July 1894(1894-07-12) Groß Burgwedel
Died	5 February 1987(1987-02-05) (aged 92) Groß Burgwedel
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Third Reich
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1913 – 1945
Rank	General der Infanterie
Commands held	I. Armeekorps 8. Armee Heeresgruppe Süd
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves

The title of this article contains the character ö. Where it is unavailable or not desired, the name may be represented as Otto Woehler.

Otto Wöhler (12 July 1894 in Burgwedel – 5 February 1987 in Burgwedel) was a German general of infantry, serving during World War I and World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career

Otto Wöhler (left) with Ferdinand Schörner

Wöhler fought in World War I as a lieutenant and served in the post-war Reichsheer. A seasoned general staff officer, he had caught the attention of Field Marshal Erich von Manstein, who made him his chief of staff when Manstein was appointed to command 11th Army. Wöhler served with Manstein until April 1942 when he was assigned as chief of staff for Army Group Center under Field Marshal Günther von Kluge. Wöhler’s first combat command was I. Armeekorps which he led from April to August 1943, before being given command of 8th Army on 22 August 1943. Field Marshal von Manstein, whose Army Group South included 8th Army, was very pleased with this appointment as Wöhler had fought with distinction and skill during the summer and fall of 1943. His cool-headedness was considered a crucial asset at that stage and later on the Eastern Front. According to Heinz Guderian's memories, when Heeresgruppe Süd ,which he commanded, destroyed Russian bridge-head over Hron river by 22.February 1945, Hitler said "Wöhler may not be National-Socialist, but at least he is he-man."^[1]

As with every other German senior officer, Wöhler was investigated by the Allies after the war and was then implicated in Einsatzgruppe activities while serving as Chief of Staff of 11th Army in early 1942. He was tried by a U.S. Military Tribunal at Nuremberg ("OKW Case" No. XII) and then sentenced to 8 years imprisonment in October 1948. He was released in autumn 1950.

Until his death Otto Wöhler participated in many functions and as patron of civic organizations in his home community of Burgwedel. He also created a charitable foundation that inherited his estate. He is buried next to his only child, a son, who died in the Baltic during World War II as a naval cadet.

Awards

• 1914 Iron Cross
  • 2nd Class (29 September 1914)
  • 1st Class (17 September 1916)
• House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords
• 1939 Clasps to the Iron Cross
  • 2nd Class (19 September 1939)
  • 1st Class (4 October 1939)
• German Cross in Gold (26 January 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross (14 August 1943)
  • 671st Oak Leaves (28 November 1944)
• Order of Michael the Brave 3rd and 2nd Class
• Mentioned three times in the Wehrmachtbericht (12 August 1943; 8 May 1944; 30 October 1944)

References

Citations

1. ^ Nash, Douglas E. Hell's Gate. The Battle of the Cherkassy Pocket, January–February 1944. Southbury, Connecticut: RZM Publishing. 2002, p. 21. ISBN 0965758435

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.

External links

• Otto Wöhler @ Lexikon der Wehrmacht

Military offices
Preceded by General der Kavallerie Philipp Kleffel	Commander of I. Armeekorps 1 April 1943 – 15 August 1943	Succeeded by General der Kavallerie Philipp Kleffel
Preceded by General Johannes Blaskowitz	Commander of 8. Armee 22 August 1943 – 27 December 1944	Succeeded by General Hans Kreysing
Preceded by Generaloberst Johannes Frießner	Commander of Heeresgruppe Süd December 28, 1944 – March 25, 1945	Succeeded by Generaloberst Dr. Lothar Rendulic

Persondata
Name	Wohler, Otto
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	12 July 1894
Place of birth	Groß Burgwedel
Date of death	5 February 1987
Place of death	Groß Burgwedel