Carl Hilpert

Carl Hilpert
Born 12 September 1888
Died 1 February 1947(1947-02-01) (aged 58)
Moscow, Soviet Union
Allegiance  German Empire
 Weimar Republic
 Nazi Germany
Service/branch Army
Rank Generaloberst
Commands held XXIII Corps
16th Army
Army Group Courland
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Carl Hilpert (12 September 1888 – 1 February 1947) was a German general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II.

During the last stages of World War II, Hilpert commanded the German troops which had been surrounded by the Red Army in the Courland Pocket. On 7 May 1945, Karl Dönitz, in his capacity as head of state, ordered Hilpert to surrender Army Group Courland. Hilpert was the army group's last commander-in-chief.[Note 1] Hilpert surrendered himself, his personal staff, and three divisions of the XXXVIII Corps to Soviet Marshal Leonid Govorov. Hilpert sent the following message to his troops:

To all ranks! Marshal Govorod (sic) has agreed to a cease-fire beginning at 14:00 hours on 8 May. Troops to be informed immediately. White flags to be displayed. Commander expects loyal implementation of order, on which the fate of all Courland troops depends.[1]

He died two years later as prisoner in Moscow on 1 February 1947.

Awards and decorations

Notes

  1. ↑ May 12, 1945 (From the Soviet Information Bureau Our Victory) Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. part of the RIA Novosti 60 anniversary of surrender project Archived May 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. notes that Hilpert was commander of the XXXVIII Corps, it explains why only 3 divisions surrenderd with him

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Hans Dollinger The Decline and Fall of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan -, Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number 67-27047, Page 290
  2. 1 2 Thomas 1997, p. 280.
  3. ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 186.
  4. 1 2 Scherzer 2007, p. 391.

Bibliography

  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. 
  • Schaulen, Fritjof (2003). Eichenlaubträger 1940 – 1945 Zeitgeschichte in Farbe I Abraham – Huppertz [Oak Leaves Bearers 1940 – 1945 Contemporary History in Color I Abraham – Huppertz] (in German). Selent, Germany: Pour le Mérite. ISBN 978-3-932381-20-1. 
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. 
  • Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6. 
Military offices
Preceded by
General der Infanterie Martin Grase		 Commander of I. Armeekorps
1 January 1944-20 January 1944 		Succeeded by
General der Artillerie Walter Hartmann
Preceded by
General der Artillerie Walter Hartmann		 Commander of I. Armeekorps
1 May 1944-1 August 1944 		Succeeded by
General der Infanterie Theodor Busse
Preceded by
General der Infanterie Paul Laux		 Commander of 16. Armee
3 September 1944 – 10 March 1945 		Succeeded by
General der Infanterie Ernst-Anton von Krosigk
Preceded by
General Lothar Rendulic		 Commander of Army Group Courland
25 March 1945-8 May 1945 		Succeeded by
none
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