Joachim Ziegler

Joachim Ziegler
Born	2 October 1904 (1904-10-02) Hanau, Province of Hesse-Nassau, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died	2 May 1945 (1945-05-03) (aged 40) Berlin, Free State of Prussia, Nazi Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Wehrmacht (to 1943) Waffen SS
Years of service	1931–45
Rank	SS-Brigadeführer
Service number	SS #491,403
Unit	11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland
Battles/wars	Spanish Civil War World War II
Awards	Spanish Cross Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Joachim Ziegler (2 October 1904 – 2 May 1945) was born in Hanau in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis, in Hesse, Germany. Ziegler rose to the rank of SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was the commander of the 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland, and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II, the Oak Leaves being a second award.

Career

Ziegler was awarded the Spanish Cross for his participation in the Spanish Civil War, fighting in the Condor Legion. In 1939 he served as the adjutant in the 3rd Panzer Brigade and on 23 September 1939 he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class followed by a 1st class award on 28 June 1940. On 14 March 1943 he was promoted to Oberst and served on the General Staff of the XXXXII Army Corps. He was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 15 March 1943 and later was invited by the Wehrmacht to a command position in the Waffen-SS. His SS number was 491,403. From 20 June 1943 Ziegler was the Chief of General Staff of the III (Germanic) SS Panzer Corps, and in November 1943 he was granted permission to wear an SS uniform for the duration of his command.

When Fritz von Scholz was killed in action on 28 July 1944, he was asked to take over command of the 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland. On 5 September 1944 he was awarded the Knights Cross for the conduct of the division in action and the Oak Leaves in April 1945.

During the Battle of Berlin, SS-Brigadeführer Gustav Krukenberg was appointed on 25 April 1945 the commander of (Berlin) Defence Sector C which included the Nordland Division. Ziegler was relieved of his command of Nordland the same day. The exact reason for the transfer of the Nordland command is not clearly known. It was requested by General Helmuth Weidling.

After Hitler's death Krukenberg assembled most of his escort made up of French volunteers of the SS Charlemagne Division for the breakout of Berlin. They joined up with Ziegler and a larger group of Nordland troops. They crossed the Spree just before dawn. Near the Gesundbrunnen U-Bahn station they came under heavy fire and Ziegler was gravely wounded. Ziegler died from his wounds on 2 May 1945.

Awards

• Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords (31 May 1939)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (23 September 1939)
  • 1st Class (28 June 1940)
• German Cross in Gold on 14 March 1943 as Oberstleutnant im Generalstab (in the General Staff) of XXXIX. Panzerkorps
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 5 September 1944 as SS-Brigadeführer and commander of the 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division Nordland
  • (848th) Oak Leaves on 28 April 1945 as SS-Brigadeführer and commander of the 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division Nordland

References

Bibliography

Military offices
Preceded by SS-Gruppenführer Fritz von Scholz	Commander of 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Nordland" 27 July 1944 - 25 April 1945	Succeeded by SS-Brigadeführer Gustav Krukenberg