Fritz Kraemer

SS-Brigadeführer Fritz Kraemer (12 December 1900 – 23 June 1959) was a German Waffen-SS and Heer officer, and a commander of the I. SS-Panzer Corps Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler and the 12.SS-Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend. He was also a winner of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Early life - Pre-war service
Kraemer was born in Stettin. He joined the Wehrmacht in 1918 and later attended the Berlin War Academy. In 1936 he was appointed the commander of 5.Kompanie/Infanterieregiment 55 and by 1939 was reassigned to the 13. Infanterie Division (mot).

Early war campaigns
Kraemer distinguished himself during the invasion of Poland and the campaign in the west. He won the Iron Cross second class and the Iron Cross first class on 6 October 1939 and 26 May 1940 respectively. On 11 October 1940 he was promoted to Ia (chief assistant, operations) of the 13. Infantry Division which was the same day reorganized into the 13. Panzer Division.

War in Russia
During the operations in Russia with the 13. Panzer Division, Fritz Kraemer once again proved himself to be an excellent commander and in 1942 was awarded both the German Cross in Gold and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Although he was a Heer officer, in January 1943, Josef "Sepp" Dietrich selected Kraemer as the senior administrative officer (Ia) of the I.SS-Panzer Korps with the rank of SS-Oberführer. Soon Dietrich realized that Fritz Kraemer was an ideal choice for this position and officially admitted him into the SS on 1 August 1944. He was given the rank of SS-Brigadeführer.

Western front and postwar
During the battles in Normandy, Krämer acted as Dietrich’s deputy, and eventually succeeded Hubert Meyer as commander of the 12. SS-Panzerdivision Hitlerjugend. However, he was in charge of the division only until 13 November 1944 when he was transferred to the reserves and Hugo Kraas assumed command of the division. For the remainder of the war, Kraemer served as a chief of staff with the 6. Panzer-Armee and surrendered to the Americans, along with Dietrich, in May 1945. He was tried at Dachau in 1946 for the involvement in the Malmedy Massacre and was sentenced to a ten year imprisonment. Following his release, he lived in Höxter, Germany until his death. Kraemer was buried with full military honors.

Dates of rank

 * Oberleutnant: 1 October 1934
 * Hauptmann: ?
 * Major: ?
 * Oberstleutnant: 1 April 1942
 * Oberst: 1 January 1943
 * SS-Oberführer: 1 September 1943
 * SS-Brigadeführer: 1 August 1944

Notable decorations

 * German Cross in Gold (1942)
 * Eastern Front Medal (1942)
 * Iron Cross Second (1939) and First (1940) Classes
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (1942) with Oak Leaves (1945)
 * SS-Honour Ring (?)
 * Panzer Badge (?)