Helmuth Weidling
| Helmuth Weidling | |
|---|---|
Helmuth Weidling in 1943
|
|
| Born | 2 November 1891 |
| Died | 17 November 1955 (aged 64) Vladimir, Soviet Union |
| Allegiance |
 German Empire Weimar Republic Nazi Germany
|
| Service/branch | Heer |
| Years of service | 1911–45 |
| Rank | General of the Artillery |
| Commands held |
XL Panzer Corps XLI Panzer Corps LVI Panzer Corps Berlin Defense Area |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords |
Helmuth Weidling (2 November 1891 – 17 November 1955) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany before and during the Second World War. Weidling was the last commander of the Berlin Defence Area during the Battle of Berlin, and led the defence of the city against Soviet forces, finally surrendering just before the end of the Second World War in Europe.
Born in 1891, Weidling entered the military in 1911 and served as a lieutenant in the First World War. He remained in the reduced army of the Weimar Republic after the war.
As an artillery officer, Weidling took part in the invasion of Poland, the Battle of France and during the early stages of Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. In January 1942, still on the Eastern Front, Weidling was appointed commander of the 86th Infantry Division.
On 15 October 1943, Weidling became the commander of the XLI Panzer Corps. He commanded the XLI Panzer Corps until 10 April 1945. There was a short break in his command from 19 June 1944 to 1 July 1944. During this break, Generalleutnant Edmund Hoffmeister took over during the first stages of Soviet Operation Bagration. Hoffmeister was in command when most of the German 9th Army, along with the XLI Panzer Corps, was encircled during the Bobruysk Offensive.
The XLI Panzer Corps was rebuilt as part of the German 4th Army. The 4th Army, under the command of General Friedrich Hoßbach, was given the task of holding the borders of East Prussia. On 10 April 1945, three days before the Soviet forces launched the East Prussian Offensive, Weidling was relieved of his command. Two days after, he was appointed as commander of the LVI Panzer Corps. The LVI Panzer Corps was part of Gotthard Heinrici's Army Group Vistula. As commander of this corps, Weidling began his involvement with the Battle of Berlin.
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