Gen Beelitz

[jacquesf]

I am in the process of researching Gen Beelitz. I got a lot of information from NARA , but there are some questions and timeframes that I need more information on.

This is a summary of what I have:

"Officer Commanding Southwest
(Officer Commanding Army Group C) Headquarters 1 March 1944
Chief of the General Staff
Critique of 1 April 1944 Family situation: married
Number of Children: 2 Sons:1, Daughters:1
Colonel 1.5.43 Dietrich Beelitz
O.C.. Southwest
(O.C.. Army Group C) Army High Command (H. Hauh.) 14.3.1906
officer on active service General Staff career path
gem. H. M. 4, Number 9/u H.M.44, Number 22.
1.9.39 – 28.2.40 , General Staff of the Army transferred
1.3.40 – 5.4.40 Staff General Army Directorate (A.H.A.)
6.4.40 – 10.1..40 Liaison Officer between Chief H. Ruest and Commander of the Replacement Army (BdE) and Supreme Army Command.(ObdH)
11.11.40 – 30.3.42 General Staff 132 Infantry Division detached
10.12.40 – 30.3.42 Ia (Chief of Operations) 97 1e Infantry Division
31.3.42 – 1.7.42 Fhr. Res. High Command of the Army (OKH) (W.Kdo.VII)
2.7.42 – 5.11.43 Pz. A.O.K. 3 as Chief of Operations (Ia)
6.11.43 – 30.11.43 Fhr. Res O.K.H.
1.12.43 – present Chief of Operations (Ia) O.C. Sudwest (OC Army Group C)
German Distinctions:
26.7.41 Iron Cross 2 Class. 30.1.43 War Service Cross 2 class with Shield
19.8.41 Iron Cross 1st Class
German Cross in Gold
10.8.42 Eastern Medal
Short Critique:
Youthful, fresh, capable and duty-conscious personality with
excellent personal characteristics. Energetic and clever
general staff officer with healthy aspirations. Highly gifted and well educated
from a tactical and organizational point of view. Thinks quickly and with foresight.
Clear reporting. As Chief of Operations (Ia) of the Army Group especially reliable even in
crisis situations. Pristine national socialist bearing. Outstanding conversation. Good appearance. Very valued comrade.
From a health point of view, not yet fully back to peak,
but attempts to make up for this with energy. Deserving
of special recognition.
Strong point: Distinct leadership qualities.

Far above average.


I find it interesting that certain items are not included or even mentioned, like
the obvious Infantry assault award, his long service awards etc. I am
especially interested in his awards and also more detailed information on
his actually military service and award and campaign related info. I also need more info about his promotion to general and his service in the timeframe from 1944 to the end of the war? His personal information and broad career path up to end 1943 I do have.


I am also interested in personal anecdotes and is his personal life story. I would appreciate any information. Jacques

[Simon O.]

like
the obvious Infantry assault award,

He didn't get any assault badge, he was general staff through and through, not frontschwein.

He should have the 4 and 12 year long service medals though, possibly one or more of the flower war medals.

You'll find some info on his pre-war and late war service at the axis biographical research site
http://www.geocities.com/orion47.geo/

[jacquesf]

Simon thank you for the reply. Just a question for clarification. He got awarded the EK2 and EK 1 shortly after each other while serving as:

"Transferred into the General-Staff of the 132nd Infantry-Division (08 Nov 1940-04 Dec 1940)
Chief of Operations (Ia) in the General-Staff of the 97th Infantry-Division (04 Dec 1940-04 Apr 1942)"

As these are combat bravery awards he would have had to have participated in infantry combat assaults or actions which would surely have qualified him for an assault badge.


Also another question. I cannot find anything substantial on the 97 Inf division? There is only a 97 Jaeger Division that was constituted in 1942 from the 97 light inf division and was active on the Sudfront in Russia.. Jacques

[Simon O.]

Jaques, the EK series, including DK, RK and honour roll clasp are not 'combat bravery ' awards. Yes, they were awarded for that too but the scope of things for which they could be awarded was far wider. In this case the EK and his DKiG were awarded for his performance as a staff officer and his contribution to a succesful or particularly hard fought operation, he was the divisonal Ia, the key man in a division who directed combat operations, so his performance was combat related but he wasn't on the front lines, that simply wasn't his job.

That's why the CCC in gold is regarded as the highest award of the combat soldier, because it could only be qualified for via frontline combat.

With regard to the 97 Inf.Div.
I don't know if it was you or someone else that did the translating but they made a mistake in writing 1e. It does indeed say 97 le infanterie division which subsequently became the 97 Jäger Div.

10.12.40 – 30.3.42 Ia (Chief of Operations) 97 1e Infantry Division