Anton von Hohberg und Buchwald

Anton von Hohberg und Buchwald
Born(1885-09-21)21 September 1885
Wismar, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, German Empire
Died2 July 1934(1934-07-02) (aged 48)
Dulzen, East Prussia, Germany
Allegiance German Empire
Service / branchPrussian Army
Years of service–1918
RankRittmeister
SS–Obersturmführer
Battles / warsWorld War I
Spouse(s)Gertrud von Rheinbaben (1909–1912, divorced)
Other workSS Cavalry leader (East Prussa)

Anton Freiherr von Hohberg und Buchwald (21 September 1885 – 2 July 1934) was a German officer in the Prussian Army and also in the Schutzstaffel (SS). He was murdered during the Night of the Long Knives.

Life

Hohberg was born in Wismar, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and started a career as a Cavalry officer in the German Imperial Army. He served throughout World War I as a Rittmeister (captain) and was retired after 1918. After his dismissal, he went to his family's manor in Dulzen near Preussisch Eylau, East Prussia, where he started to work as a farmer. In 1909 he married Gertrud von Rheinbaben (1888–1949), daughter of Prussian Minister of Interior and Finances Georg von Rheinbaben [de], but divorced in 1912 after a duel with Horst von Blumenthal, whom she then married. Around 1930 he joined the National Socialist German Workers' Party and was temporarily a member of the staff of East Prussian SS leader Erich von dem Bach–Zelewski, but came into personal conflicts with him.[1]

On 14 May 1934, Hohberg was dismissed as SS–Oberabschnittsreiterführer (regional SS Cavalry leader) with a rank of SS-Obersturmführer (first lieutenant).[2] During the Night of the Long Knives, von dem Bach gave the order to kill Hohberg. Most probably on 2 July 1934, Hohberg was shot in his manor house in Dulzen by SS-Scharführer Zummach (von dem Bach's chauffeur) and SS-Obersturmführer Carl Reinhard. Hohberg was one of the few SS-members, and probably the highest-ranking one, killed in the Röhm-Putsch.

Aftermath

Von dem Bach-Zelewski was a high-ranking SS-officer throughout World War II. On 16 January 1961, he was prosecuted for the killing and sentenced to four years and 6 months imprisonment by a West German court for manslaughter.[3] He died in custody in 1972.[4]

Notes

  1. ^ Matthias Schmettow: Gedenkbuch des deutschen Adels, 1967, p. 144 (in German)
  2. ^ Meindl, Ralf (2007). Ostpreussens Gauleiter Erich Koch: eine politische Biographie (in German). University of Freiburg. p. 212. ISBN 978-3-938400-19-7. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  3. ^ Hamburger Abendblatt 4 August 1962
  4. ^ Wojskowy Instytut Historyczny: Historia Militaris Polonica. 1974, S. 273 (in Polish)

References

  • Alfred Gerigk: Deutschland und das Weltgeschehen, 1961, p. 285 (in German)
  • Bernt Engelmann: Einig gegen Recht und Freiheit, 1975, p. 328 (in German)
  • Heinz Höhne: Der Orden unter dem Totenkopf. Die Geschichte der SS, 1967, p. 115 (in German)