Alfons Hitter

Alfons Hitter
206th Infantry Division's commander, Alfons Hitter (second from right) and corps commander Gollwitzer surrender to Soviet forces.
Born	(1892-06-04)4 June 1892 Hochstatt, Alsace-Lorraine
Died	Königswinter
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1914–18 1922–45
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	Artillerie-Regiment 178 Artillerie Regiment 112 206. Infanterie-Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Moscow Battles of Rzhev Operation Bagration Vitebsk–Orsha Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Other work	NKFD

Alfons Hitter (4 June 1892, Hochstatt, Alsace-Lorraine – 11 March 1968) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 206th Infantry Division. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Generalleutnant Hitter was captured by Soviet forces early during Operation Bagration when his division was encircled and forced to surrender at Vitebsk. He was held in a Soviet prison for eleven years, joining the National Committee for a Free Germany while in captivity. He was released in 1955.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (2 September 1914)
  • 1st Class (5 February 1916)
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (13 May 1940)
  • 1st Class (2 July 1940)
• German Cross in Gold on 15 December 1943 as Generalleutnant and commander of 206. Infanterie-Division
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 14 December 1941 as Oberst and commander of Artillerie-Regiment 178
  • 488th Oak Leaves on 4 June 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of 206. Infanterie-Division
• Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht (19 November 1943 and 11 February 1944)

Wehrmachtbericht references

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
19 November 1943	An der erfolgreichen Abwehr des feindlichen Ansturms westlich und nordwestlich Smolensk haben das II. Bataillon des Grenadierregiments (mot.) 119 unter Führung von Major Nagengast, die sächsische 14. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Generalmajor Flörke und die ostpreußische 206. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Generalleutnant Hitter hervorragenden Anteil.	In the successful defense of the enemy onslaught west and northwest of Smolensk, the 2nd Battalion of the 119th Grenadier Regiment (mot.) under the leadership of Major Nagengast, the Saxon 14th Infantry Division under the command of Major General Flörke, and the East Prussian 206th Infantry Division under the command of Lieutenant General Hitter had a prominent contribution.
11 February 1944	Im mittleren Frontabschnitt hat sich die unter dem Befehl des Generals der Infanterie Jordan kämpfende niedersächsische 131. Infanteriedivision unter Generalleutnant Hitter besonders ausgezeichnet.	The under the command of General of Infantry Jordan fighting Lower Saxon 131st Infantry Division under Lieutenant General Hitter has particularly distinguished itself in the middle sector of the front.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Alfons Hitter @ Axis Biographical Research at the Wayback Machine (archived October 28, 2009)

Military offices
Preceded by Generalleutnant Hugo Höfl	Commander of 206. Infanterie-Division 10 July 1942 - 13 July 1943	Succeeded by Generalmajor Carl André
Preceded by Generalmajor Carl André	Commander of 206. Infanterie-Division 14 September 1943 - 28 June 1944	Succeeded by None