Erich von dem Bach
| Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Birth name | Erich Julius Eberhard von Zelewski |
| Born | 1 March 1899 Lauenburg, Prussia, German Empire |
| Died | 8 March 1972 (aged 73) Munich, West Germany |
| Allegiance |
 German Empire Weimar Republic Nazi Germany
|
| Service/branch |
 Schutzstaffel
|
| Years of service | 1914–45 |
| Rank | Obergruppenführer |
| Service number |
NSDAP #489,101 SS #9,831 |
| Commands held |
SS and Police Leader for Silesia Higher SS and Police Leader for Army Group Centre Rear Area Chief of Bandenbekämpfung for occupied Europe |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski (1 March 1899 – 8 March 1972) was a high-ranking SS commander of Nazi Germany. During World War II, he was in charge of security warfare (Bandenbekämpfung, literally: "bandit fighting") against those designated by the regime as ideological enemies and any other persons deemed to present danger to the Nazi rule or Wehrmacht's rear security in the occupied territories of Eastern Europe. It mostly involved the civilian population. In 1944 he led the brutal suppression of the Warsaw Uprising.
Despite his responsibility for numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity, Bach-Zelewski did not stand trial in Nuremberg, and instead was used as a witness for the prosecution. He was later convicted for politically motivated murders after the war and died in prison in 1972.
Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski was born as "Erich Julius Eberhard von Zelewski" on 1 March 1899 to Kashubian parents, Otto Jan Józefat von Zelewski and Elżbieta Ewelina Szymańska. He legally added "von dem Bach" to the family name late in 1933. In November 1941, he removed "Zelewski" part of his surname because of its Polish-sounding origin. Apparently, Bach-Zelewski manipulated his genealogy numerous times in his career, to impress his superiors.
Despite his aristocratic genealogy, he grew up in poverty. In November 1914, he volunteered for the Prussian Army and served throughout World War I. He was awarded the Iron Cross. After the war, Zelewski remained in the Reichswehr and fought against the Polish Silesian Uprisings. In 1924 he resigned his army commission (or was most likely discharged) and returned to his farm in Düringshof (Polish Bogdaniec in Gorzów Wielkopolski county). Zelewski enrolled with the border guards (Grenzschutz) the same year.
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