Wilhelm Soeth

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Wilhelm Friedrich Söth (born February 15, 1903 in Wilster ; † July 6, 1978 in Hamburg ) was a German officer , most recently major general in World War II .

Life

Söth was the son of a stoker . It was one of the very few generals in the Wehrmacht whose father belonged to the working class. He joined the Reichswehr , more precisely the 6th Infantry Regiment , as a volunteer on October 1, 1921 . On September 30, 1933, he was retired as sergeant in the 2nd Artillery Regiment. His re-entry as first lieutenant in the Reichswehr took place on July 1, 1934. His seniority was dated September 1, 1928. On October 1, 1938 he was commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 56th Artillery Regiment. On November 28, 1940, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross as a captain in the 56th Artillery Regiment . On April 1, 1942, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. For his service on the Eastern Front he received the German Cross in Gold on May 27, 1942 . From April 1, 1943, he was in command of the 73rd Panzer Artillery Regiment of the 1st Panzer Division . On August 1, 1943, he was promoted to colonel . From July 27, 1944 commander of the Grenadier Brigade 1131. From January 1, 1945 he commanded the 3rd Panzer Division . The promotion to major general took place on January 30, 1945.

literature

  • Wolfgang Keilig : The Generals of the Army 1939–1945. Podzun-Pallas-Verlag, Friedberg 1983, ISBN 3-7909-0202-0 .
  • Lieutenant General Wilhelm Söth (February 15, 1903– July 6, 1978). In: Ottomar Krug: German Generals 1918–1945. Online finding aid in the Freiburg Federal Archives , signature MSG 109.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Reinhard Stumpf : The Wehrmacht Elite Structure of rank and origin of the German generals and admirals 1933-1945. (Military history studies), Harald Boldt Verlag, Boppard am Rhein 1982, ISBN 3-7646-1815-9 , p. 272.
  2. ↑ Wolfgang Keilig : The Generals of the Army 1939-1945. Podzun-Pallas-Verlag, Friedberg 1983, ISBN 3-7909-0202-0 , p. 326
  3. ↑ Walther-Peer Fellgiebel : The bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945 - The holder of the highest award of the Second World War of all parts of the Wehrmacht . Dörfler Verlag, Eggolsheim 2004, ISBN 3-7909-0284-5 , p. 327 .
  4. ^ Wilhelm Söth  in the German Digital Library
personal data
SURNAME Söth, Wilhelm
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Söth, Wilhelm Friedrich
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German officer, most recently major general in World War II
DATE OF BIRTH February 15, 1903
PLACE OF BIRTH Wilster
DATE OF DEATH July 6, 1978
Place of death Hamburg