Alfons Hitter

Alfons Hitter
Born	(1892-06-04)4 June 1892 Hochstatt, Alsace-Lorraine
Died	11 March 1968(1968-03-11) (aged 75) Königswinter
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1914–1918 1922–1945
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	Artillerie-Regiment 178 Artillerie Regiment 112 206. Infanterie-Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Moscow Battles of Rzhev Operation Bagration Vitebsk–Orsha Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Other work	NKFD

Alfons Hitter (4 June 1892, Hochstatt, Alsace-Lorraine – 11 March 1968) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 206. Infanterie-Division. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Generalleutnant Hitter was captured by Soviet forces during Operation Bagration and the fall of Vitebsk. He joined the National Committee for a Free Germany while in captivity and was released in 1955.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (2 September 1914)
  • 1st Class (5 February 1916)
• Cross of Honor
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (13 May 1940)
  • 1st Class (2 July 1940)
• German Cross in Gold (15 December 1943)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 14 December 1941 as Oberst and commander of Artillerie-Regiment 178
  • 488th Oak Leaves on 4 June 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of 206. Infanterie-Division
• Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht (19 November 1943 and 11 February 1944)

Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
11 February 1944	Im mittleren Frontabschnitt hat sich die unter dem Befehl des Generals der Infanterie Jordan kämpfende niedersächsische 131. Infanteriedivision unter Generalleutnant Hitter besonders ausgezeichnet.	The under the command of General of Infantry Jordan fighting Lower Saxon 131st Infantry Division under Lieutenant General Hitter has particularly distinguished itself in the middle sector of the front.

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 (in German). München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Alfons Hitter @ Axis Biographical Research

Military offices
Preceded by Generalleutnant Hugo Höfl	Commander of 206. Infanterie-Division 10 July 1942 - 13 July 1943	Succeeded by Generalmajor Carl André
Preceded by Generalmajor Carl André	Commander of 206. Infanterie-Division 14 September 1943 - 28 June 1944	Succeeded by None