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Carl Hilpert | |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 September 1888 Nuremberg |
| Died | 1 February 1947(1947-02-01) (aged 58) Moscow,Soviet Union |
| Allegiance |  German Empire Weimar Republic Nazi Germany |
| Service | Army (Wehrmacht) |
| Years of service | 1907–1945 |
| Rank |  Generaloberst |
| Commands | LIX Corps XXIII Corps LIV Corps XXVI Corps I Army Corps 16th Army Army Group Courland |
| Battles / wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Carl Hilpert (12 September 1888 – 1 February 1947) was a German general duringWorld War II.
When World War II broke out in September 1939, Hilpert became chief of the staff ofArmeeabteilung A on 9 September 1939 under the command ofKurt von Hammerstein-Equord, who was tasked with securing the western border with Belgium and the Netherlands. After its dissolution on 3 October, the staff was used to form the South Border Section Command in Kraków, where Hilpert remained active, before taking up the post of chief of staff of the1st Army underErwin von Witzleben on 5 February 1940. With this association, Hilpert took part in theBattle of France and after its successful completion on 1 October 1940, he was promoted to lieutenant general. Since Erwin von Witzleben, who had been appointedGeneralfeldmarschall, now took overArmy Group D (from April 1941 alsoOberbefehlshaber West) in occupied France on 26 October 1940, Hilpert also succeeded him as the new Chief of Staff of the Army Group. Hilpert remained in this position for the next year and a half. After the daring BritishSt Nazaire Raid revealed the poor state of western defences in March 1942, Hilpert was removed from this post and transferred to theFuhrerreserve.
On 26 June 1942, Hilpert became acting commander of theLIX Army Corps and in July took over the command ofXXIII Corps with which he fought against the SovietOperation Mars. On 20 January 1943, he became Commanding General ofLIV Corps, which was deployed under the 18th Army of Army Group North before Leningrad and was involved in heavy defensive battles duringOperation Iskra. In the following summer 1943 too, he proved himself in further defensive battles in theFifth Sinyavino Offensive, for which he was later awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 22 August 1943.
From 31 October 1943, he briefly commanded theXXVI Army Corps off Leningrad before taking overI Army Corps in the area of the 16th Army fighting in the Newel area on 1 January 1944. As part of the Soviet winter offensive (Leningrad–Novgorod Offensive), Hilpert's troops got into heavy fighting, and Hilpert himself fell out. In July 1944, during the battles that followed the start of the Soviet summer offensiveOperation Bagration, Hilpert managed to break out of thePolotsk Fortress in heavy battles. For this achievement he received the oak leaves for the Knight's Cross on 8 August 1944.
During the last stages ofWorld War II, Hilpert commanded the German troops which had been surrounded by theRed Army in theCourland Pocket. On 7 May 1945,Karl Dönitz, in his capacity as head of state, ordered Hilpert to surrenderArmy Group Courland. Hilpert was the army group's last commander-in-chief. Hilpert surrendered himself, his personal staff, and three divisions of theXXXVIII Corps to Soviet MarshalLeonid Govorov. Hilpert sent the following message to his troops:
To all ranks! Marshal Govorod [sic] has agreed to a cease-fire beginning at 14:00 hours on 8 May. Troops to be informed immediately. White flags to be displayed. Commander expects loyal implementation of order, on which the fate of allCourland troops depends.[1]
He was taken prisoner by the Soviets and later charged with war crimes. Found guilty and sentenced to death, he was executed in February 1947.[2]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Commander ofLIX. Armeekorps 26 June 1942 - 25 July 1942 | Succeeded by General der InfanterieKurt von der Chevallerie |
| Preceded by | Commander ofXXIII. Armeekorps 25 July 1942 – 19 January 1943 | Succeeded by GeneraloberstJohannes Frießner |
| Preceded by General der KavallerieErick Hansen | Commander ofLIV. Armeekorps 20 January 1943 - 1 August 1943 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander ofXXVI. Armeekorps 31 October 1943 - 1 January 1944 | Succeeded by General der InfanterieMartin Grase |
| Preceded by General der InfanterieMartin Grase | Commander ofI. Armeekorps 1 January 1944-20 January 1944 | Succeeded by General der ArtillerieWalter Hartmann |
| Preceded by General der ArtillerieWalter Hartmann | Commander ofI. Armeekorps 1 May 1944-1 August 1944 | Succeeded by General der InfanterieTheodor Busse |
| Preceded by General der InfanteriePaul Laux | Commander of16. Armee 3 September 1944 – 10 March 1945 | Succeeded by General der InfanterieErnst-Anton von Krosigk |
| Preceded by GeneralLothar Rendulic | Commander ofArmy Group Courland 25 March 1945-8 May 1945 | Succeeded by none |
