SS-Begleitkommando des Führers

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SS Escort Command of the Führer
SS-Begleitkommando des Führers l/k/a Führerbegleitkommando
SS men providing security for Hitler in February 1939
Active29 February 1932 – 30 April 1945
Country Nazi Germany
AllegianceAxis
Branch Schutzstaffel
RoleBodyguards

SS-Begleitkommando des Führers ("SS Escort Command of the

Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
(LSSAH). The majority of these additional men were used by Hitler as guards for his residences while uninhabited and as orderlies, valets, waiters, and couriers.

The FBK accompanied Hitler on all his travels and was always present at the different Führerhauptquartiere (Führer Headquarters; FHQ) throughout World War II. When on duty, the FBK members were the only armed personnel Hitler allowed to be near him. The unit remained responsible for Hitler's personal protection until his suicide in Berlin on 30 April 1945.

Service history

The SS-Begleitkommando was formed on 29 February 1932 to provide general protection to Hitler and other party functionaries. Twelve Schutzstaffel (SS) members were selected by Sepp Dietrich to present to Hitler.[1] From the twelve, a smaller eight-man team called the SS-Begleitkommando des Führers was chosen to protect Hitler as he travelled around Germany.[1] Their first appearance was when they accompanied Hitler during the election campaign trips in 1932. They served around the clock protecting Hitler.[2]

Formed in March 1933, the Führerschutzkommando (FSK) replaced the SS-Begleitkommando for Hitler's overall protection throughout Germany in the spring of 1934.[3] The FSK members consisted of criminal-police detectives of the Bavarian police. The small SS-Begleitkommando des Führers unit continued to provide personal security for Hitler.[4] The FSK was also responsible for general security measures, preventive measures, and prosecution of assassination attempts.[5] The Führerschutzkommando was officially renamed the Reichssicherheitsdienst (Reich Security Service; RSD) on 1 August 1935.[6] The RSD and the SS-Begleitkommando cooperated with the Ordnungspolizei (uniformed order police), Gestapo, and other agencies to provide the inner security requirements, whereas outer protection was handled by general SS units.[7]

Expansion and renamed

Hitler's motorcade with FBK and RSD escort cars to the left and right behind his car, as they head towards the city center of Vienna in 1938

The SS-Begleitkommando was expanded and became known as the Führerbegleitkommando (Führer Escort Command; FBK).

Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH).[11] Hitler used them for guard duty, but also as orderlies, valets, waiters, and couriers.[11] While nominally under the control of Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler, the FBK took their orders direct from Hitler, much to Himmler's frustration.[12] For administrative purposes, the FBK was under the control of the LSSAH. That did not change the fact the unit received their orders from Hitler and in later years from his chief adjutant, Julius Schaub, through the day-to-day operational orders given to Johann Rattenhuber, chief of the RSD.[6]

When on duty, the FBK members were the only armed personnel Hitler allowed to be near him.[13] They never had to surrender their Walther PPK 7.65 pistols and were never searched when they were with Hitler. On the other hand, the RSD men were required to remain at positions some distance away from Hitler.[14]

Hitler and his FBK driver Erich Kempka in Mercedes W31 – September 1939, Poland

The FBK and RSD worked together for security and protection during trips and public events, but they operated as two groups and used separate vehicles. RSD chief Rattenhuber was in overall command and the FBK chief acted as his deputy.

Hitler's 50th birthday of 20 April 1939. The car had 18 mm steel plate and 40 mm bullet-proof glass.[16][18]

By March 1938, both the FBK and RSD wore the standard field grey uniform of the SS. The two units were under the control of the SS and both units were made up of SS members.[19] Guarding Hitler could require very long days, especially for the FBK members, who at times were on duty for twenty-four hours without rest. However, the RSD members as trained criminal-police detectives tended to consider themselves a more disciplined group.[20]

The FBK accompanied Hitler on all his travels and was always present at the different Führerhauptquartiere (Führer Headquarters; FHQ) in various parts of occupied Europe during World War II.[21][22] Wherever Hitler was in residence, members of the FBK and RSD were present. The FBK provided close security protection and would also be posted as guards in corridors leading to Hitler's office in places such as the Reich Chancellery.[23] The RSD men patrolled the grounds. For special events, the number of LSSAH guards, who provided an outer ring of protection was increased.[24][25] By 15 January 1943 the FBK had expanded to 31 SS officers and 112 men.[9] Thirty-three were used for escort duties, rotating in groups of eleven. The rest were used as guards for Hitler's residences "not in use at the time" and other duties.[9][26]

Wolf's Lair FHQ

Claus von Stauffenberg (far left) meeting Hitler at the Wolf's Lair
in July 1944

As RSD chief, Rattenhuber was responsible for securing Hitler's field headquarters.

steel-reinforced concrete.[30][31] Sperrkreis 2 (Security Zone 2) surrounded the inner zone. This area housed the quarters of several Reich ministers, the HQ personnel, two messes, a communication centre, as well as the military barracks for the FBB. Sperrkreis 3 (Security Zone 3) was a heavily fortified outer security area which surrounded the two inner zones. It was defended by land mines and FBB personnel, who manned guard houses, watchtowers and checkpoints. Despite the security, the most notable assassination attempt against Hitler was made at the Wolf's Lair on 20 July 1944.[32][33] No plots or assassination attempts ever originated with or included members of the FBK or RSD. The original FBK members were old Nazi Party comrades of Hitler and all the men chosen were loyal to him.[13]

1945

SS-Obersturmbannführer Franz Schädle was appointed the last FBK commander on 5 January 1945, after the dismissal of Bruno Gesche in December 1944. Himmler wrote a strongly worded rebuke, after an incident that featured a drunken Gesche firing shots at a comrade. Gesche was reduced nine grades in rank and transferred to the Waffen-SS.[34][35]

On 16 January 1945, following the failure of the

Soviet Red Army artillery.[41]

After Hitler's death, a briefing conference was held where prior orders were implemented that those who could do so were to break out from the centre government sector and join other German formations.

gangrenous. He could only walk at a slow pace using a crutch.[43][44] Schädle committed suicide by shooting himself in the mouth with a pistol, rather than attempt the break out from the surrounded Reich Chancellery area.[35]

Original members


Commanders

RSD Commander:

SS-Begleitkommando (later known as: FBK) commanders:

Notable FBK members

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f Hoffmann 2000, p. 48.
  2. ^ Hoffmann 2000, pp. 48, 54–57.
  3. ^ Felton 2014, pp. 16, 17.
  4. ^ Hoffmann 2000, pp. 32, 33.
  5. ^ Joachimsthaler 1999, pp. 287, 288.
  6. ^ a b Hoffmann 2000, p. 36.
  7. ^ Hoffmann 2000, pp. 157, 160, 165–167.
  8. ^ Joachimsthaler 1999, pp. 16, 287.
  9. ^ a b c Hoffmann 2000, p. 54.
  10. ^ Joachimsthaler 1999, pp. 16, 287, 293.
  11. ^ a b O'Donnell 1978, p. 101.
  12. ^ Felton 2014, p. 33.
  13. ^ a b Felton 2014, p. 104.
  14. ^ Misch 2014, pp. 120, 121.
  15. ^ Felton 2014, pp. 32, 33.
  16. ^ a b Dietrich 2010, p. 138f.
  17. ^ Hoffmann 2000, pp. 85, 86 diagram pages.
  18. ^ Hoffmann 2000, p. 64.
  19. ^ Hoffmann 2000, pp. 36, 48.
  20. ^ Hoffmann 2000, p. 57.
  21. ^ Joachimsthaler 1999, p. 293.
  22. ^ Felton 2014, p. 16.
  23. ^ Felton 2014, p. 136.
  24. ^ Hoffmann 2000, pp. 160, 165, 166.
  25. ^ Cook & Bender 1994, pp. 9, 12, 17–19.
  26. ^ Misch 2014, p. 134.
  27. ^ Felton 2014, p. 23.
  28. ^ Kershaw 2008, p. 624.
  29. ^ Felton 2014, pp. 89–90, 95.
  30. ^ Kershaw 2008, pp. 624, 792.
  31. ^ Felton 2014, p. 95.
  32. ^ Felton 2014, pp. 89–90.
  33. ^ Kershaw 2008, pp. 829–831.
  34. ^ Felton 2014, p. 158.
  35. ^ a b c d e f Joachimsthaler 1999, pp. 293, 294.
  36. ^ Beevor 2002, p. 139.
  37. ^ Beevor 2002, p. 278.
  38. ^ Felton 2014, p. 139.
  39. ^ O'Donnell 1978, p. 133.
  40. ^ O'Donnell 1978, p. 97.
  41. ^ Felton 2014, p. 145.
  42. ^ Beevor 2002, p. 358.
  43. ^ O'Donnell 1978, pp. 236, 341, 349.
  44. ^ Felton 2014, p. 154.
  45. ^ a b c d e Hoffmann 2000, p. 52.
  46. ^ Joachimsthaler 1999, p. 288.
  47. ^ Hoffmann 2000, pp. 52–54.
  48. ^ Kershaw 2008, p. 957.
  49. ^ a b Hoffmann 2000, pp. 55, 56.
  50. ^ a b c Hoffmann 2000, p. 56.
  51. ^ Hoffmann 2000, p. 55.
  52. ^ Hoffmann 2000, pp. 53, 55–56.
  53. ^ Felton 2014, p. 140.

Bibliography

  • ISBN 978-0-670-03041-5
    .
  • Cook, Stan; Bender, Roger (1994). Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler: Uniforms, Organization, & History. James Bender Publishing.
    ISBN 978-0-912138-55-8
    .
  • Dietrich, Otto (2010). The Hitler I Knew: Memoirs of the Third Reich's Press Chief. Skyhorse Publishing.
    ISBN 978-1-60239-972-3
    .
  • ISBN 978-1-78159-305-9
    .
  • ISBN 978-0-30680-947-7
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  • ISBN 978-1-86019-902-8
    .
  • ISBN 978-0-393-06757-6
    .
  • ISBN 978-1848327498
    .
  • ISBN 978-0-395-25719-7
    .
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