| Alfons Hitter | |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 June 1892 |
| Died | 11 March 1968 (aged 75) |
| Place of birth | Hochstatt, Alsace-Lorraine |
| Place of death | Königswinter |
| Allegiance |
 German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Heer |
| Years of service |
1914–1918 1922–1945 |
| Rank |
 Generalleutnant |
| Commands held |
Artillerie-Regiment 178 Artillerie Regiment 112 206. Infanterie-Division |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
| Other work | NKFD |
Alfons Hitter (4 June 1892, Hochstatt, Alsace-Lorraine – 11 March 1968) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 206. Infanterie-Division. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. 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. Generalleutnant Hitter was captured by Soviet forces during Operation Bagration and the fall of Vitebsk. He joined the National Committee for a Free Germany while in captivity and was released in 1955.
Awards and decorations[]
- Iron Cross (1914)
- 2nd Class (2 September 1914)
- 1st Class (5 February 1916)
- Cross of Honor
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class (13 May 1940)
- 1st Class (2 July 1940)
- German Cross in Gold (15 December 1943)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 14 December 1941 as Oberst and commander of Artillerie-Regiment 178 [1]
- 488th Oak Leaves on 4 June 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of 206. Infanterie-Division [2]
- Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht (19 November 1943 and 11 February 1944)
Wehrmachtbericht references[]
| Date | Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording | Direct English translation |
|---|---|---|
| 19 November 1943 | An der erfolgreichen Abwehr des feindlichen Ansturms westlich und nordwestlich Smolensk haben das II. Bataillon des Grenadierregiments (mot.) 119 unter Führung von Major Nagengast, die sächsische 14. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Generalmajor Flörke und die ostpreußische 206. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Generalleutnant Hitter hervorragenden Anteil.[3] | In the successful defense of the enemy onslaught west and northwest of Smolensk, the 2nd Battalion of the 119th Grenadier Regiment (mot.) under the leadership of Major Nagengast, the Saxon 14th Infantry Division under the command of Major General Flörke, and and the East Prussian 206th Infantry Division under the command of Lieutenant General Hitter had a prominent contribution. |
| 11 February 1944 | Im mittleren Frontabschnitt hat sich die unter dem Befehl des Generals der Infanterie Jordan kämpfende niedersächsische 131. Infanteriedivision unter Generalleutnant Hitter besonders ausgezeichnet.[4] | The under the command of General of Infantry Jordan fighting Lower Saxon 131st Infantry Division under Lieutenant General Hitter has particularly distinguished itself in the middle sector of the front. |
References[]
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) (in German). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtsteile [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]. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007) (in German). 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]. Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- (in German) Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943. München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.
- (in German) Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945. München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.
External links[]
The original article can be found at Alfons Hitter and the edit history here.