General der Infanterie Otto Wöhler

[Jeremy Dixon]

Does anyone know his exact assignments between 1935 and 1938?

Thanks

[Dieter Zinke]

Otto Wöhler

01.12.1934 I a im Stab des Artillerieführers III in Oppeln
15.10.1935 I a der 8. Infanterie-Division, Neiße
24.01.1936 I a im Stab des VIII. Armeekorps, Breslau
01.10.1937 beim Stab der Wehrmachtsakademie
01.04.1938 I a im Generalstab des Gruppen- bzw. Heeresgruppen-Kommandos 5, Wien


Dieter Z.

[Jeremy Dixon]

Excellent Dieter thanks.

[Rossano]

Hello everybody
I refer to what Richard wrote, that Wöhler commanded ?E.10.42-A.2.43 a group at the same time being Chief of Staff of HGr. Mitte. I always wondered how it is possible that he commanded a group leaving his post as chief of staff vacant for over 2 months without anybody taking his place as deputy chief of staff. I believe that he could not lead/run both posts at the same time. According to von Gersdorff´s Biographie Gen.Maj. Krebs was deputy Chief of staff during this time. Can anybody confirm that ? What is strange is that in official documents/lists dated 15.11 and 15.12.42 of the 9. Armee Wöhler was officially still Chief of staff of HGr. Mitte. I´d appreciate Your comments (possibly based on official documents).
Thanks + Regards, Rossano

[Dieter Zinke]

According
Tessin, Georg: Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945, Band 17 (Register der Namensverbände; ff), bearbeitet auf Grund der Unterlagen des Bundesarchiv-Militärarchivs von Brün Meyer, Biblio Verlag, Bissendorf 2002
page 285
there was indeed a "Gruppe General Wöhler" in Heeresgruppe Mitte:
22.12.11942 subordinated to LIX. Korps
and
01.01. - 15.01.1943 subordinated to "Gruppe von der Chevallerie"(LIX. Korps).
A deputy for Wöhler as Chief of Staff is not mentioned there.


Dieter Z.

[genstab]

I have one more bit of info- according to his bio in the Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuremberg Military Tribunals, Vol. X, The High Command Case, he was acting for Gen. Ernst von Leyser at XXVI. AK from 1-7-43 to 1-8-43.

Best regards,
Bill in Cleveland

[Jeremy Dixon]

Thanks Bill

[Rossano]

I have one more bit of info- according to his bio in the Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuremberg Military Tribunals, Vol. X, The High Command Case, he was acting for Gen. Ernst von Leyser at XXVI. AK from 1-7-43 to 1-8-43.

Best regards,
Bill in Cleveland

Hello again Bill
according to the books mil. histories of the Inf.Rgt. 9 and of the 126. Inf.Div. Wöhler was already acting on 27.6.43 and still on 12.8.43.
Regards, Rossano

[histan]

Rossano

Here is the quote from Trial of Major War Criminals:
"In March of 1943, he was given command of I Army Corps as acting commanding general and later, on 1 June 1943, was designated as the commanding general of this corps. On 1 July 1943, he took over command of XXVI Corps which he held until approximately 14 August 1943. At approximately this time he was transferred to Army Group South and became Commander of the Army [Armee-Abteilung] Kempf which on 15 August, when he took over, was known at times as the Army Group [Armee Gruppe] Woehler and ultimately became the 8th Army." [spelling as in original typescript]

So date of leaving is consistent with your dates. I can speculate why they give 1 July 1943 when you have him in command in June.

Do you know if Wöhler commanded both I AK and XXVI AK at thr same time or was someone appointed mstFb I AK in June 1943? and if so who?

Regards

John

[Rossano]

Hello John, nice question indeed
Unfortunately this is my question too. He is said to have commanded the I. AK until 15.8.43, and in such case he should have been acting commander at the same time of XXVI. AK too. I have none who substituted Wöhler 6/8.43........
Regards, Rossano
P.S.: but until now nobody answered my initial question i.e. acted Krebs (or who ?) 10.42-2.43 as Chief of staff of HGr. Mitte whilst Wöhler commanded his Gruppe ???

[genstab]

One more comment on an Armeegruppe. It could be a temporary combination of armies, such as Armeegruppe G in France from May 1944 when Hitler didn't want to give Blaskowitz 's command Heeresgruppe status as he disliked the general. But it later was upgraded to a Heeresgruppe in September just before Blakowitz was removed in favor of Balck.

[genstab]

I just saw this thread- I have a question in about his tenure at I. AK in another thread this month. I can't see that he commanded I. AK and XXVI. AK concurrently as according to the OKH Kriegsgliederungen for the period, XXVIII. AK was in between them. I asked Dieter if he could post Woehler's military assignment history but he said he's way too busy for a few months. Am asking NARA for a copy of his military records.

Best,
Bill in Cleveland

[histan]

Extracts from the KTB for I. AK (NARA T-314 R-61)

30.6.1943
10.00 Uhr O.B. Armee / Kommand. General:
General Wöhler soll den Kommand.Gen. des XXVI. AK während seines Urlaubs vertreten, da die Armee keinen geeigneten anderen Vertreter hat und bei dem XXVI. AK jederzeit mit russ. Angriffen zu rechnen ist, während beim I. AK nichts darauf hin deutet, dass Feindangriffe zu erwarten sind. General Wöhler wird durch den Kdr. der 227. ID , Generallt. Berlin, vertreten, der auf seinem Gef.Std. bleibt und so die Führung der 227. ID beibehält.

2.7.1943
Besprechung Kommand. General mit beiden Divisions-Kommandeuren auf Gef.Std. 227. ID, gleichzeitig Übergabe des Korps an Generallt. Berlin.

3.7.1943
14.00 Uhr Abfahrt Kommand. General zum XXVI. AK

26.7.1943
16.30 Uhr teilt Generallt. Wöhler an Chef mit, dass er auf Befehl des Generalfeldmarschalls von Küchler und des Generaloberst Lindemann die Vertretung beim XXVI. AK so lange behält, bis die Lage vor der Front sich wieder beruhigt hat.
Ob General von Leyser, Kommand. General XXVI. AK, im Austausch nach Rückkehr vom Urlaub so lange das I. AK führen wird, ist noch nicht entschieden.

31.7.1943
13.30 Uhr Ankunft General der Inf. von Leyser, Kommand. General XXVI. AK, der im Austausch für General der Inf. Wöhler das I. AK vertretungsweise so lange führen soll, bis beim XXVI. AK die russ. Angriffe beendet sind.

3.8.1943
23.45 Uhr erhält General der Inf. von Leyser durch Generalfeldmarschall von Küchler fermündl. den Befehl, das I. Korps zu übernehmen und so lange zuführen, bis er Befehl erhält, das XXVI. AK zu übernehmen.

10.8.1943
Der stellv. Kommand.General I. AK, General der Inf. von Leyser, wird auf seinem Wunsch in die Führerreserve OKH versetzt.
Generalleutnant Berlin übernimmt ab 11.8., 00.0 Uhr, die Führung des I. AK bis zum Eintreffen des Generals der Inf. Sponheimer, der statt General Wöhler das XXVI. AK übernehmen soll.

13.8.1943
19.10 Uhr (General Wöhler soll neue Verwendung erhalten, General Hilpert soll I. AK übernehmen)

14.8.1943
18.30 Uhr Anruf Armee-Chef
Als Nachfolger von General Wöhler übernimmt am 15.8. General Grase die Führung des I. AK

15.8.1943
trifft General Grase auf Korps-Gef.Std. ein und übernimmt die Führung des I. AK

Rough summary
KG XXVI. AK, von Leyser, was to go on leave. Wöhler was assessed as the only suitable candidate to replace him (Because XXVI. AK was likely to be attacked and I. AK was not). Wöhler went to XXVI. AK (mstFb) and Belin temporarily replaced him (mstFb I. AK). Leyser returned from leave but did not resume command of XXVI. AK but sent to command I. AK (mstFb). Leyser was transferred to the FR and Berlin resumed temporary command of I. AK. Both Sponheimer and Hilpert were identified by HGr as possible temporary replacements at I. AK, but Wöhler sent to HGr Süd with Hilpert replacing him at XXVI. AK and Grase at I. AK.

Another command change sorted out!

Regards

John

[Rossano]

Very good indeed John ! It´be great if You could solve the known puzzle below too :
"Wöhler commanded end oct. 42 - beginn. febr. 43 a group at the same time being Chief of Staff of HGr. Mitte. I always wondered how it is possible that he commanded a group leaving his post as chief of staff vacant for over 2 months without anybody taking his place as deputy chief of staff. I believe that he could not lead/run both posts at the same time. According to von Gersdorff´s Biographie Gen.Maj. Krebs was deputy Chief of staff during this time. Can anybody confirm that ? What is strange is that in official documents/lists dated 15.11 and 15.12.42 of the 9. Armee Wöhler was officially still Chief of staff of HGr. Mitte. I´d appreciate Your comments (possibly based on official documents)".
Thanks + Rgds., Rossano

[genstab]

I'm in your debt again, John. That was great. Nothing like the unit Kriegstagesbücher for settling questions llike these. Thanks so much.

Best,
Bill in Cleveland