Otto Wöhler

Otto Wöhler
Otto Wöhler
Born	(1894-07-12)12 July 1894 Groß Burgwedel, Province of Hanover, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died	Groß Burgwedel, Lower Saxony, West Germany
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany (to 1945)
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1913–45
Rank	General der Infanterie
Commands held	I. Armeekorps 8. Armee Heeresgruppe Süd
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Otto Wöhler (12 July 1894 in Burgwedel – 5 February 1987 in Burgwedel) was a German General der Infanterie, serving during World War I and World War II and 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.

Wöhler was a convicted war criminal, implicated in Einsatzgruppe activities while serving as Chief of Staff of 11th Army in early 1942.

Career

Wöhler fought in World War I as a lieutenant and served in the post-war Reichswehr. 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 Army Corps which he led from April to August 1943, before being given command of 8th Army on 22 August 1943. 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 the Russian bridge-head over the Hron river on 22 February 1945, Hitler said "Wöhler may not be National-Socialist, but at least he is a man."

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.

Awards

• 1914 Iron Cross
  • 2nd Class (29 September 1914)
  • 1st Class (17 September 1916)
• House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords
• 1939 Clasp to the Iron Cross
  • 2nd Class (19 September 1939)
  • 1st Class (4 October 1939)
• German Cross in Gold on 26 January 1942 as Oberst im Generalstab in the General Staff of AOK 11
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 14 August 1943 as General der Infanterie and commanding general of the I. Armeekorps
  • 671st Oak Leaves on 28 November 1944 as General der Infanterie and commander-in-chief of the 8. Armee
• Order of Michael the Brave 3rd and 2nd Class
• Mentioned three times in the Wehrmachtbericht (12 August 1943; 8 May 1944; 30 October 1944)

Wehrmachtbericht references

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
12 August 1943	In der dritten Schlacht südlich des Ladogasees haben die unter Führung des Generalfeldmarschalls Küchler, des Generalobersten Lindemann und des Generals der Infanterie Wöhler stehenden deutschen Truppen, unterstützt von den durch General der Flieger Korten geführten Luftwaffenverbänden, in der Zeit vom 22. Juli bis 6. August den Ansturm der 8. und 67. sowjetischen Armee in heldenmütigen Kämpfen abgeschlagen und damit die Durchbruchsabsichten des Feindes vereitelt.	In the third battle south of Lake Ladoga have German troops standing under the command of Field Marshal Küchler, Colonel General Lindemann and General of Infantry Wöhler, supported by Air Force organizations led by the Luftwaffe General Korten, in the period of 22 July to 6 August heroically thwarted the assault of the 8th and 67th Soviet army and prevented the breakthrough intentions of the enemy.
8 May 1944	Der mit 20 Schützen- und mehreren Panzerdivisionen angestrebte Durchbruchsversuch der Bolschewisten scheiterte an der zähen und verbissenen Abwehr der unter Führung des Generals der Infanterie Wöhler stehenden deutschen und rumänischen Truppen, die von Verbänden der deutschen und rumänischen Luftwaffe in vorbildlicher Waffenkameradschaft hervorragend unterstützt wurden.	The break through attempt of 20 infantry and several armored Bolsheviks divisions failed due to the tenacious and fierce defense of the under the command of General of the Infantry Wöhler subordinated German and Romanian troops, who were well assisted in exemplary weapons camaraderie by units of the German and Romanian Air Force.
30 October 1944	Im Raum von Debrecen haben deutsche und ungarische Truppen unter dem Oberbefehl des Generals der Infanterie Wöhler und des Generals der Artillerie Fretter-Pico in dreiwöchigen Kämpfen starke feindliche Kräfte vernichtend geschlagen und damit die vom Gegner angestrebte Umfassung der im Südostteil Ungarns stehenden deutschen und ungarischen Verbände vereitelt.	In the area of Debrecen, German and Hungarian troops under the command of General of Infantry Wöhler and the General of Artillery Fretter-Pico in three weeks of fighting defeated strong enemy forces and hindered the enemy intended encirclement of the in South Eastern part of Hungary standing German and Hungarian units.

References

Bibliography

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 28 December 1944 – 25 March 1945	Succeeded by Generaloberst Dr. Lothar Rendulic