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Hans Cramer | |
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 Cramer in 1941 | |
| Born | (1896-07-13)13 July 1896 |
| Died | 28 October 1968(1968-10-28) (aged 72) |
| Allegiance | German Empire Weimar Republic Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Prussian Army Reichswehr German Army |
| Years of service | 1914–1944 |
| Rank | General der Panzertruppe |
| Commands | Deutsches Afrika Korps |
| Battles / wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Hans Cramer (13 July 1896 – 28 October 1968) was a German general in theWehrmacht duringWorld War II.
Cramer enlisted in thePrussian Army on 10 August 1914 and served inWorld War I; he was retained in theReichsheer. In September 1939 he took part in theinvasion of Poland as commander of a detachment. In March 1941 he was appointed commander of tank regiment in the15th Panzer Division, which became part of the GermanAfrica Korps. In 1942 Cramer was appointed as Chief of Staff to the Chief of Armoured Troops, Mechanized Troops and Cavalry at theOKH, and then to the post itself. During late 1942 to January 1943 he temporarily commanded theXXXVIII Panzer Corps and theXI Army Corps.
In February 1943 he returned to Africa as commander of the Afrika Korps. On 12 May 1943, with the capitulation of the German forces in North Africa, he was taken prisoner by the British. From 16 May on he was held in the special prison for captured German generals and staff officers atTrent Park. He was exchanged in May 1944 and returned to Germany, reportedly because of his problems with asthma. During his repatriation journey, he was allowed to seeMontgomery's 21st Army Group preparing for the invasion of Europe, but was told he was in Kent, wherePatton's mythical1st U.S. Army Group was preparing for its invasion. This was part of the broader Allied deception campaign,Operation Fortitude, prior toD-Day.
Cramer was appointed toPanzer Group West in France as a supernumerary. As a former prisoner of war he fell under suspicion of complicity after the20 July plot. He was placed under arrest on 26 July, and held in theGestapo prison on thePrinz-Albrecht-Strasse in Berlin and then in a satellite camp of theRavensbrück concentration camp until 5 August 1944. In September 1944 he was dismissed from theWehrmacht. After crossing of Allied forces into German territories he was appointed asCommander-in-chief of all Germanprisoners of war inHolstein area.[1] Cramer died in 1968.
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