Franz_Breithaupt

Franz Breithaupt

Franz Breithaupt

SS-Obergruppenführer, chief of the SS Court Main Office

Franz Breithaupt (8 December 1880 – 29 April 1945) was a German SS functionary during the Nazi era. From August 1942 until April 1945, he was chief of the SS Court Main Office (Hauptamt SS-Gericht). Breithaupt was murdered by his SS aide Karl Lang just prior to the end of the war in Europe.

Quick Facts Born, Died ...

Biography

Breithaupt was born in Berlin on 8 December 1880. He served in the German Army during World War I. In August 1914, he was wounded in combat near Progarts. Thereafter, he was in several hospitals until the end of October 1914.[1] By the end of the war, he was commander of the Vorposten (forward posts) of the 9. Kavallerie-Division. In November 1919 he was discharged from active duty in the army with the rank of major. He served in a Freikorps in Berlin until 1921. Breithaupt then went into business training at a factory in Lübbecke/Westfalen. He went on to work as a salesman and later was a business manager of the Deutschen Turnerschaft from 1923 until 1931.[2]

In January 1929, he joined Der Stahlhelm (The Steel helmet, League of front-line Soldiers), one of the many paramilitary organizations that arose after the German defeat of World War I. The league was a rallying point for revanchist and nationalistic forces from the beginning. By January 1931, he was chairman of the board of directors for "Ireks AG" in Kulmbach and acted as its business manager in Berlin.

Breithaupt joined the Nazi Party (# 602,663) on 1 August 1931 and then joined the Sturmabteilung (SA) in November.[2] In December 1932, he joined the Schutzstaffel (# 39,719) as a SS-Sturmbannführer (major) and was assigned as an adjutant to the staff of Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler replacing Viktor Brack.[2] On 31 July 1933, he was promoted to SS-Obersturmbannführer (lt. colonel) and then to SS-Standartenführer (colonel) on 9 November of the same year.[1] He was promoted to SS-Oberführer (senior colonel) on 9 November 1934.[1] Breithaupt served on Himmler's staff until 1 April 1936. Later on 9 November 1938 he was promoted to the rank of SS-Brigadeführer (Generalmajor).[1] Breithaupt also served as the Nazi Party deputy to the Reichstag between 1933 and 1945.

He was assigned to the SS-Hauptamt in Berlin from 1 April 1936 to 1 January 1941.[3] He served as the official Polizeipräsident (police president) of Breslau from 4 April 1941 to 15 August 1942.[3] Breithaupt was promoted to SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS on 15 August 1942. Breithaupt was then chief of the Hauptamt SS-Gericht (SS Court Main Office) from 15 August 1942 until his murder on 29 April 1945.[4]

This office was responsible for formulating the laws and codes for the SS and police, conducting its own investigations and trials, as well as administering the SS and Police Courts and penal systems.[5] This legal status meant all SS personnel were only accountable to the Hauptamt SS Gericht. This effectively placed the SS above German law, enabling its members to live by its own rules and conventions.[6] The Hauptamt SS Gericht headquarters were the high court offices in Munich. The Hauptamt SS Gericht had 605 lawyers that passed sentences on members of the German armed forces and SS. Breithaupt was last promoted in rank to SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS on 20 April 1944.[1]

Death

Breithaupt was murdered by gunshot by his aide SS-Untersturmführer (2nd lieutenant) Karl Lang in Bach on 29 April 1945.[7]

Awards and decorations

References

Citations

  1. [1]
    Miller 2006, p. 178.
  2. [2]
    Miller 2006, pp. 178, 179.
  3. [3]
    Miller 2006, p. 181.
  4. [4]
    Miller 2006, pp. 178, 182.
  5. [5]
    McNab 2009, p. 37.
  6. [6]
    McNab 2009, p. 41.
  7. [7]
    Miller 2006, p. 177.
  8. [8]
    Miller 2006, p. 182.
  9. [9]
    Miller 2006, p. 183.

Bibliography

  • McNab, Chris (2009). The SS: 1923–1945. Amber Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1-906626-49-5.
  • Miller, Michael (2006). Leaders of the SS and German Police, Vol. 1. San Jose, CA: R. James Bender. ISBN 978-93-297-0037-2.
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