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Erich von dem Bach

Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-S73507, Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski.jpg
Birth name Erich Julius Eberhard von Zelewski
Born 1 March 1899
Lauenburg, Prussia, German Empire
Died 8 March 1972(1972-03-08) (aged 73)
Munich, West Germany
Allegiance  German Empire
 Weimar Republic
 Nazi Germany
Service/branch Flag of the Schutzstaffel.svg 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

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

World War II

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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