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Carl Hilpert
File:Carl Hilpert.jpg
Generaloberst Carl Hilpert
Born (1888-09-12)September 12, 1888
Died 1 February 1947(1947-02-01) (aged 58)
Place of birth Nuremberg, Bavaria
Place of death Moscow, Soviet Union
Allegiance Flag of the German Empire German Empire (to 1918)
Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio) Weimar Republic (to 1933)
Flag of German Reich (1935–1945) Nazi Germany
Service/branch Army
Years of service 1907–1945
Rank Wehrmacht Generaloberst Generaloberst
Commands held XXIII Corps
16th Army
Army Group Courland
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Carl Hilpert (12 September 1888 – 1 February 1947) was an officer in the German Army during World War II.

Hilpert was born in Nuremberg, Bavaria.

During the last stages of World War II, Hilpert commanded the German troops which had been surrounded by the Soviet Army in the Courland Pocket. On 7 May 1945, Head of State (Staatsoberhaupt) and German President (Reichspräsident) Karl Dönitz ordered Colonel-General (Generaloberst) Carl Hilpert, to surrender Army Group Courland. Hilpert was the army group's last commander-in-chief.[1] Hilpert surrendered himself, his personal staff, and three divisions of the XXXVIII Corps to Marshal of the Soviet Union Leonid Govorov. Hilpert sent the following message to his troops:

To all ranks! Marshall 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 all Courland troops depends.[2]

He died two years later as prisoner in Moscow on 1 February 1947.

Command history[]

  • Commanding Officer - Tübingen Regiment - 1935
  • Commanding Officer - 35th Regiment - 1935 to 1937
  • Chief-of-Staff - IX Corps - 1937 to 1939
  • Chief-of-Staff - Army Detachment A - 1939
  • Chief-of-Staff - Frontier Section South, Poland - 1939 to 1940
  • Chief-of-Staff - 1st Army, France - 1940
  • Chief-of-Staff - Army Group D, Occupied France - 1940 to 1942
  • Chief-of-Staff - Commander in Chief West, Occupied France - 1941 to 1942
  • In reserve - 1942
  • Acting General Officer Commanding - LIX Corps - 1942
  • General Officer Commanding - XXIII Corps - 1942 to 1943
  • General Officer Commanding - LIV Corps - 1943
  • General Officer Commanding - XXVI Corps - 1943
  • General Officer Commanding - I Army Corps - 1 January to 20 January 1944
  • General Officer Commanding - I Army Corps - 1 May to 1 August 1944
  • Acting General Officer Commanding - 16th Army, Eastern Front - 1944 to 1945
  • Acting Commander-in-Chief - Army Group North, Eastern Front - 1945
  • Deputy Commander-in-Chief - Army Group Courland, Eastern Front - 1945
  • General Officer Commanding - 16th Army, Eastern Front - 1945
  • Commander-in-Chief - Army Group Courland, Eastern Front - 25 March to 8 May 1945
  • Prisoner of war - 1945 to 1948

Awards and decorations[]

Footnotes[]

  1. May 12, 1945 (From the Soviet Information Bureau Our Victory) part of the RIA Novosti 60 anniversary of surrender project notes that Hilpert was commander of the XXXVIII Corps, it explains why only 3 divisions surrenderd with him
  2. Hans Dollinger The Decline and Fall of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan -, Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number 67-27047, Page 290

References[]

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
  • Schaulen, Fritjof (2003). Eichenlaubträger 1940 - 1945 Zeitgeschichte in Farbe I Abraham - Huppertz (in German). Selent, Germany: Pour le Mérite. ISBN 3-932381-20-3.

External links[]


Military offices
Preceded by
General der Infanterie Martin Grase
Commander of I. Armeekorps
1 January 1944-20 January 1944
Succeeded by
General der Artillerie Walter Hartmann
Preceded by
General der Artillerie Walter Hartmann
Commander of I. Armeekorps
1 May 1944-1 August 1944
Succeeded by
General der Infanterie Theodor Busse
Preceded by
General der Infanterie Paul Laux
Commander of 16. Armee
3 September 1944 – 10 March 1945
Succeeded by
General der Infanterie Ernst-Anton von Krosigk
Preceded by
General Lothar Rendulic
Commander of Army Group Courland
25 March 1945-8 May 1945
Succeeded by
none


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The original article can be found at Carl Hilpert and the edit history here.
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