Chief of staff of the VI. SS-Frw.AK in spring 1944

[Rossano]

Hello all
OTL. Helmut Ziervogel is reported (in many Internet-links) to have been 02.44-05.44 chief of staff of the VI. SS-Frw.AK, but this is not confirmed in his Karteikarte. Besides, a document concerning Ob. Peter Sommer reads : „Beurteilung von Pfeffer-Wildenbruch vom 20.5.44 : Sommer bewies in März und April Entschlusskraft …...., damit hat er seine Stelle als Chef des Generalstabes des Korps voll ausgefüllt. Belassung“. So, it really seems that from february to May 44 not Ziervogel but Sommer was Chief of staff (Sommer was 06.44-01.45 again chief after Krukenberg 05 - 06.44). Question solved ?
Rossano

[Rossano]

Nobody ? If Sommer was Chef what was Ziervogel 02 - 05.44 or did he have no extra assignment at all ? He was 08.43 - 10.44 Ia Op.Abt.(H)/WFSt.

[Georges JEROME]

the Proposition for the attribution of Ritterkreuz dated 6.8.1944 mention for Peter Sommer :



Dienststellung : Chef des Generalstabes (Oberst i.G.)
Date of appointment : 16.2.1944


Georges

[Rossano]

Hello Georges, thanks for Your information.
In the books "Ritterkreuzträger...." Sommer is not listed (so he was only proposed to, but then not come true).
Apart that, did his proposition specify which Korps he was 16.2.44 Chef of ?
I am confused because in Sommer´s mil. career there is a gap just between 12.43 and 04.44.
I have him 12.43- 02.44 as Chef of IV. or VII.SS-PzK (source is not clear/certain).
Then march/april 44 as Chef of VI.SS-AK (according to Pfeffer-Wildenbruch). Maybe from febr. to may or Ziervogel was Chef i.V. inbetween (in febr. or in may 44) ?
But his mil. career reads that he became 04.44 Chef of VII.SS-PzK (maybe from may 44 ?
Rgds., Rossano

[Georges JEROME]

Peter Sommer
25.02.1907 at Hildesheim
won EK II on 14.5.40 and EK I on 19.5.1940. An DKG on 10.1.1943 in Heeres. Recommanded for RK but rejected by Gen. der Inf. Burgsdorf chief of Heerespersonalamt.
Attended General Staff courses (Kriegsakademie)
1.6.42 Promoted Oberstleutnant as 1.Generalstabsoffizier in einer Inf. Division.
20.6.1943 zur Dienstleistung zur Waffen-SS kdrt. (attached for temporary duties to Waffen-SS).
1943 he succeeded Georg Meier as Ia SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Das Reich" (he led an Kampfgruppe "Das Reich") and was succeeded by Albert Stückler.
1.2.1944 promoted to Oberst i.G. during his Dienstleitstung in der Waffen-SS and wear the uniform of the Waffen-SS equivalent to his rang in der Wehrmacht (SS-Standartenfûhrer)
16.2.1942 Chef des Generalstabes Gen.Kdo. VI. SS-Freiw. Armee-Korps

Georges

[Rossano]

Thanks Georges
That Sommer was from 16.02.1944 Chef of VI.SS-AK is reported neither in his Dienstlaufbahn nor in his Karteikarte. Do You know why Ziervogel is reported in Internet to have been 02-05.44 Chef as well ? Totally wrong data (as Sommer is confirmed to have been Chef), or was he maybe Ia ?
Rgds., Rossano

[VJK]

According to excerpts dated 30 March 1944 and 8 June 1944 from the war diary of Gruf. Bangerskis, Insp. Gen. of the Latvian Legion, Sommer is shown as CoS of the VI. SS-Frw.AK on those dates. Just my 2 (euro) cents worth.

Kind regards,

VJK

[Rossano]

Thanks VJK for Your 2 cents confirmation. Anything about Ziervogel febr-may 1944 ?

[VJK]

Neither Bangerskis nor any other of the Latvian sources at my disposal have any mention of Ziervogel whatsoever.
Here is a pic of Sommer (1st left) with Bangerskis, Krüger and Silgailis dated 20 August 1944. The caption shows Sommer as CoS, VI. SS-Frw.AK. Source: Silgailis "Latviešu Leģions"

Kind regards,

VJK

[Georges JEROME]

Rossano,

Datas come from his SS personal files : Lebenslauf and proposal for R.K. by Kom. Gen. of the VI SS.A.K. Krüger.

Georges

[smetanin albert]

from Moore Fuehrerliste

[Rossano]

Thank You guys, much appreciated, but I still have a few questions.
Sommer´s Dienstlaufbahn reads that he was from april to june 44 Chef of VII. SS-PzK, whilst Krukenberg 05-06.44 Chef of VI. SS-AK (followed again by Sommer from 06.44 on).
If this true, who was Chef of VI. SS-AK 04-05.44 ?
Here I mention 3 possibilities :
1) Sommer maybe 02-05.44 (then 05-06.44 Chef VII. SS-PzK)
2) Ziervogel 04-05.44 (or totally out of question ?),or who ?
3) Krukenberg maybe 04-06.44
Which one do You think is correct ?
Finally,who were the last (till 05.45) Chef + Ia of VI.SS-AK ?
P.S.: hello Albert,what kind of a list is Moore's Führerliste ? Does it cover SS-Führer only or Heeres-Offzre. too ? Stand ?

[Georges JEROME]

Kom. Gen. VI. SS-Freiw. Armee-Korps Krüger wrote a letter to Stubaf. Kment (VO b. OKH/PA) on august 1944 for proposal to RK .
So at this date he was always CdS. VI. SS-Freiw.Armee-Korps

- Sommer is not listed in Moore's Führerliste because he was a WH officer "zur Dienstleistung zur Waffen-SS kommandiert" .
-The headline of his lebenslauf is clear : "Lebenslauf des Oberst i.G. (SS-Standartenführer) Peter Sommer'.
- mention that during his "Dienstleistung in der Waffen-SS" he was allowed to wear uniform of the Waffen-SS and the Dienstgradabzeichen of his rank in the WH equivalent in Waffen-SS - als Oberst die eines SS-Standartenführers".

Georges

[Rossano]

OK, thanks Georges, but who was Chef VI.SS-AK 04-05.44 and who last Chef till may 45 ? Rossano

[Dieter Zinke]

Dr. Gustav Krukenberg:

18.01.1944 mit Wirkung vom 17.01.1944 vom SS-Führungshauptamt zum Generalkommando V. SS-Gebirgskorps als Chef des Generalstabes versetzt
18.01.1944 - 18.05.1944 Chef des Generalstabes des V. SS-Gebirgskorps
22.05.1944 nunmehr offiziell mit Wirkung vom 18.05.1944 seiner Dienststellung als Chef des Stabes des V. SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgskorps enthoben und zum VI. SS-Freiwilligen-Armeekorps als Chef des Generalstabes versetzt (Dienstantritt nach Übergabe der Geschäfte an SS-Obersturmbannführer Keller)
22.05.1944 - 25.06.1944 Chef des Generalstabes des VI. SS-Freiwilligen-Armeekorps
29.06.1944 mit Wirkung vom 25.06.1944 auf Befehl des RFSS unter Aufhebung der mit Personalverfügung vom 22.05.1944 ausgesprochenen Versetzung zum Generalkommando VI. SS-Freiwilligen-Armeekorps vom Generalkommando V. SS-Gebirgskorps zum SS-Führungshauptamt/Führerreserve der Waffen-SS versetzt unter gleichzeitiger Kommandierung zum Befehlshaber der Waffen-SS „Ostland“ zwecks Einarbeitung als Befehlshaber der Waffen-SS

Dieter Z.