Franz Schädle
Franz Schädle | |
|---|---|
 Schädle stands to the right of the soldier greeted by Himmler (left) in 1945 | |
| Born | 19 November 1906 Westerheim, Kingdom of Württemberg, German Empire |
| Died | 2 May 1945 (aged 38) Berlin, Nazi Germany |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service/ |  Schutzstaffel |
| Years of service | 1930–1945 |
| Rank | Obersturmbannführer |
| Service number | 2605 |
| Unit | SS-Begleitkommando des Führers |
| Commands held | Führerbegleitkommando (1945) |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Berlin |
Franz Schädle (19 November 1906 – 2 May 1945) was the last commander of
Biography
Schädle was born in Westernheim, Kingdom of Württemberg and after trade school he worked as a construction technician. He joined the SS on 1 February 1930. On 29 February 1932, the SS-Begleitkommando was formed to provide general protection for Hitler. Schädle was one of twelve SS members selected by Sepp Dietrich to present to Hitler for the unit.[1] From the twelve, a smaller eight-man team called the SS-Begleitkommando des Führers (SS Escort Command of the Führer; SS-BKdF) was chosen to protect Hitler as he travelled outside Munich and the borders of Bavaria, Germany.[1] As a member of the unit, Schädle guarded Hitler at the various Führer Headquarters and accompanied him on all his trips.[2] He also served on the staff of Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler from 1 May 1934.
On 5 January 1945, Schädle was appointed commander of the bodyguard unit after the dismissal of Bruno Gesche.[2] By then, the SS-Begleitkommando had been expanded and was known as the Führerbegleitkommando (Führer Escort Command; FBK).[3] He accompanied Hitler and his entourage into the bunker complex under the Reich Chancellery garden in the central government sector of Berlin.[2] Schädle appointed FBK member Oberscharführer Rochus Misch to be the bunker telephone operator.[4] By 23 April 1945, Schädle commanded approximately 30 members in the unit who stood guard for Hitler.[5] On 28 April 1945, Schädle was wounded in the leg by shrapnel, which caused him to have to "hobble" around using a crutch.[6]
After Hitler
Prior to his suicide, Joseph Goebbels finally released Misch from further service as the bunker telephone operator; he was free to leave.[11] By then, Misch and mechanic Hentschel were two of the last people remaining in the bunker.[12] Misch went upstairs, through the cellars of the Reich Chancellery to where Schädle had his office to report one last time. Misch told Schädle that Goebbels had released him. Schädle told Misch of the route he should take to try to get through the Soviet encirclement of the area.[13] Thereafter, Schädle committed suicide by shooting himself in the mouth with a pistol, rather than attempt the breakout from the Chancellery to escape from the advancing Red Army.[2] He did not want to endanger the lives of the others in the attempt, given the fact he could only walk at a slow pace using a crutch.[9]
References
Citations
- ^ a b Hoffmann 2000, p. 48.
- ^ a b c d Joachimsthaler 1999, pp. 293, 294.
- ^ Joachimsthaler 1999, pp. 16, 287.
- ^ Misch 2014, p. 134.
- ^ O'Donnell 1978, p. 97.
- ^ O'Donnell 1978, pp. 236, 349.
- ^ Joachimsthaler 1999, pp. 160–182, 193.
- ^ Felton 2014, p. 154.
- ^ a b c O'Donnell 1978, p. 349.
- ^ O'Donnell 1978, p. 341.
- ^ Misch 2014, p. 181.
- ^ Misch 2014, p. 182.
- ^ Misch 2014, p. 184.
Bibliography
- ISBN 978-1-78159-305-9.
- ISBN 978-0-30680-947-7.
- ISBN 978-1-86019-902-8.
- Misch, Rochus (2014) [2008]. Hitler's Last Witness: The Memoirs of Hitler's Bodyguard. London: Frontline Books-Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. ISBN 978-1848327498.
- ISBN 978-0-395-25719-7.