Fritz Kraemer (Waffen-SS)

Fritz Kraemer (12 December 1900 – 23 June 1959) was a high-ranking Waffen-SS commander and war criminal during the Nazi era. During World War II, he commanded the I SS Panzer Corps and the SS Division Hitlerjugend. After the war, Kramer was tried and convicted at the Malmedy massacre trial for his role in the Malmedy Massacre, receiving a 10-year sentence.

Fritz Kraemer
Kraemer in 1944
Born	12 December 1900
Died	23 June 1959 (aged 58)
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Army (Wehrmacht) Waffen SS
Rank	SS-Brigadeführer
Commands held	I SS Panzer Corps SS Division Hitlerjugend
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

During World War II, Kraemer initially served with the 13th Infantry Division. In January 1943, he was appointed as a staff officer of the I SS Panzer Corps commanded by Sepp Dietrich. Kraemer was admitted into the SS on 1 August 1944. During the battles in Normandy, Krämer acted as Dietrich’s deputy, and eventually succeeded Hubert Meyer as commander of the SS Division Hitlerjugend. He was in charge of the division until 13 November 1944.

Kraemer later served as a chief of staff with the 6th Panzer Army and surrendered to the U.S. Army, along with Dietrich, in May 1945. He was tried in 1946 for his role in the Malmedy Massacre and was sentenced to a ten-year imprisonment. He died in 1959.

Awards

• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 17 December 1942 as Oberstleutnant im Generalstab (i.G.; in the General Staff) and Ia (operations officer) in the 13. Panzer-Division[1]

References

Citations

1. Scherzer 2007, p. 469.

Bibliography

• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.