Fritz Kraemer (Waffen-SS)

Fritz Kraemer
Born	12 December 1900
Died	23 June 1959(1959-06-23) (aged 58)
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Army Waffen SS
Rank	SS-Brigadeführer
Commands held	I SS Panzer Corps SS Division Hitlerjugend
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Fritz Kraemer (12 December 1900 – 23 June 1959) was a high-ranking Waffen-SS member during World War II, and a commander of the I SS Panzer Corps and the SS Division Hitlerjugend. After the war, he was tried and convicted for his role in the Malmedy Massacre, receiving a 10-year sentence.

During World War II, Kraemer initially served with the 13th Infantry Division. In January 1943, he was appointed as a staff officer of the I SS Panzer Corps commanded by Sepp Dietrich. Kraemer was admitted into the SS on 1 August 1944. During the battles in Normandy, Krämer acted as Dietrich’s deputy, and eventually succeeded Hubert Meyer as commander of the SS Division Hitlerjugend. He was in charge of the division until 13 November 1944.

Kraemer later served as a chief of staff with the 6th Panzer Army and surrendered to the U.S. Army, along with Dietrich, in May 1945. He was tried in 1946 for his role in the Malmedy Massacre and was sentenced to a ten-year imprisonment. He died in 1959.

Awards

• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 17 December 1942 as Oberstleutnant im Generalstab (i.G.; in the General Staff) and Ia (operations officer) in the 13. Panzer-Division

References

Bibliography

• 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 Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.