Hans Schwedler
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Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Hechendorf, Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Schutzstaffel
Waffen-SS
Hans Schwedler | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 October 1878 Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire |
| Died | 2 May 1945 (age 66) Hechendorf, Nazi Germany |
| Allegiance | German Empire Nazi Germany |
| Service | Imperial German Army Schutzstaffel Waffen-SS |
| Years of service | 1898–1919 1932–1945 |
| Rank | Major SS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SS |
| Commands | SS and Police Leader, "Krakau" |
| Battles / wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Iron Cross, 1st and 2nd class War Merit Cross, 1st and 2nd class Wound Badge, in black |
Otto Hugo Hans Schwedler (17 October 1878 – 2 May 1945) was a German Nazi SS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SS who served as the SS and Police Leader in the Kraków District during the establishment of the Kraków Ghetto. He also was involved in the administration of the Nazi concentration camp system, and committed suicide close to the end of the Second World War in Europe.
Schwedler was born in Berlin, the son of a businessman. After completing his education, he sought a professional military career by joining the Imperial German Army and was commissioned a Leutnant in 1898. He served in the First World War as a company and battalion commander. He earned the Iron Cross, 1st and 2nd class, and the Wound Badge, in black. In February 1919 he was discharged from the army with the rank of Major. In 1920 he joined Der Stahlhelm, the German military veterans organization.[1]
Peacetime SS career
Schwedler joined the Nazi Party in February 1931 (membership number 455,899) and the SS (membership number 60,740) in November 1932.[2] On 31 July 1933 he was commissioned an SS-Untersturmführer. Advancing rapidly up the ranks, he served from July 1933 to 10 June 1934 as the Chief of Staff in SS-Abschnitt (District) I, based in Munich. He next commanded the 79th SS-Standarte, with headquarters in Ulm until 4 December 1934. From December 1934, he served at the SS-Junker School in Bad Tölz as an instructor and, from January to November 1938, as Deputy Commandant. He then transferred to the SS leadership school in Braunschweig until January 1940 when he was promoted to SS-Oberführer and returned to Bad Tölz. He remained there until July 1940 and, at the same time, was also assigned to the inspectorate of the SS-Totenkopfverbände (Death's Head Units) which administered the system of Nazi concentration camps. From July to October 1940, he served as Inspector of the SS-Totenkopfstandarten (Death's Head Regiments).[3]