Hermann Franz

Hermann Friedrich Franz (born 16 August 1891 in Leipzig-Stötteritz, died 18 February 1960 in Bonn) was a Nazi Party and SS member. As a SS and Police Leader, a major general of police, SS-Obergruppenführer he rose to over see Greece.

From 1898 to 1906 the Franz attended school in Dresden. In 1906 he went to army school in Struppen. In 1909 he attended army NCO School in Marienberg, graduating as a sergeant. He took part in the First World War entering the army in 1920 as a second lieutenant in the police force.

Franz joined the Nazi Party in December 1931 (Membership no. 824526). From 1933 to 1938 he was chief of police in Plauen.

At the beginning of World War II he was part of German occupation of Poland for a short time from Sept. 1939 to October 1939 as Commander of the Order Police at Army Headquarters 8th. In August 1940, he joined the SS in (SS-Nr. 361279), he was promoted to SS-Obersturmbannführer. After the invasion of the Soviet Union in July 1941 he was made commander of the police regiment South in the Ukraine, which took part in murder of the Ukraine Jews. In July 1943 he returned to German before transferring to Greece.

From November 1943 to February 1945 he was Commander of the Order Police in Athens. In September 1944, for two months, he was promoted to the acting Higher SS and Police Leader in all of Greece.

Franz was promoted November 1944 to SS-Brigadeführer (SS brigade leader). In September 1944 promoted to Major General of the Police. As Commander of the Order Police, Ordnungspolizei (Orpo), he was moved to Oslo, Norway from 7 February 1945 to the end of the war on 8 May 1945. In Norway he was captured by British troops. From 25 September 1945 to 1947 he was a prisoner of war in British captivity. First, starting 9 January 1946, at Island Farm Special Camp 11 from Camp 1 on the outskirts of the town of Bridgend, South Wales. Then transferred 25 November 1947 to the Civil Internment Camp (CIC) at Adelheide, near Delmenhorst. By Dec. 1947 the British released him.

Hermann Franz married Frida Schneider on 18 December 1917, they had no children. Hermann Franz died 18 February 1960 in Bonn at the age of 66.

He left behind a book "memories of war", which were printed after his death:
 * Gebirgsjäger der Polizei. Polizei-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 18 und Polizei-Gebirgs-Artillerieabteilung 1942–1945, Bad Nauheim 1963.
 * Translated his book tile is: Mountaineer police. Police Mountain Infantry Regiment 18 and police Mountain Artillery Division from 1942 to 1945, Publisher: Bad Nauheim in 1963.

Ranks

 * 1909 Unteroffizier verließ (Sergeant of Police)
 * 1 December 1920 Leutnant  (Lieutenant)
 * 1 December 1923 Oberleutnant der Schutzpolizei  (Lieutenant of Police)
 * 11 June 1933 Hauptmann der Schutzpolizei  (Captain of Police)
 * 1 December 1933 Major der Schutzpolizei  (Major of Police)
 * 20 April 1938 Oberstleutnant der Schutzpolizei (Lieutenant Colonel of Police)
 * 1 August 1940 Oberst der Schutzpolizei  (Colonel of Police)
 * 1 August 1940 SS-Obersturmbannführer  (entered the SS with this rank)
 * 1 April 1941 SS-Standartenführer  "SS Colonel", Highest field-officer rank
 * 21 December 1943 SS-Oberführer  "SS Senior colonel" or "SS Brigadier"
 * 14 September 1944 SS-Brigadeführer - General Major of Police "Brigadier General"