Franz Breithaupt (8 December 1880 – 29 April 1945) was a German SS functionary during the Nazi era. From August 1942 until April 1945, he was chief of the SS Court Main Office ''(Hauptamt SS-Gericht)''. Breithaupt was murdered by his SS aide Karl Lang just prior to the end of the war in Europe.

Biography

Breithaupt was born in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and List of cities in Germany by population, largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European Union by population within ci ...

on 8 December 1880. He served in the German Army during World War I. In August 1914, he was wounded in combat near Progarts. Thereafter, he was in several hospitals until the end of October 1914. By the end of the war, he was commander of the ''Vorposten'' (forward posts) of the 9. Kavallerie-Division. In November 1919 he was discharged from active duty in the army with the rank of major. He served in a ''

Freikorps (, "Free Corps" or "Volunteer Corps") were irregular German and other European military volunteer units, or paramilitary, that existed from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. They effectively fought as mercenary or private armies, rega ...

'' in Berlin until 1921. Breithaupt then went into business training at a factory in Lübbecke/Westfalen. He went on to work as a salesman and later was a business manager of the ''Deutschen Turnerschaft'' from 1923 until 1931. In January 1929, he joined ''

Der Stahlhelm ' (German, 'The Steel Helmet, League of Front-Line Soldiers'), commonly known as ''Der Stahlhelm'' ('The Steel Helmet'), was a German First World War veteran's organisation existing from 1918 to 1935. It was part of the "Black Reichswehr" and ...

'' (The Steel helmet, League of front-line Soldiers), one of the many paramilitary organizations that arose after the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

defeat of World War I. The league was a rallying point for

revanchist Revanchism (french: revanchisme, from ''revanche'', " revenge") is the political manifestation of the will to reverse territorial losses incurred by a country, often following a war or social movement. As a term, revanchism originated in 1870s F ...

and

nationalistic Nationalism is an idea and movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the state. As a movement, nationalism tends to promote the interests of a particular nation (as in a group of people), Smith, Anthony. ''Nationalism: T ...

forces from the beginning. By January 1931, he was chairman of the board of directors for "Ireks AG" in Kulmbach and acted as its business manager in Berlin. Breithaupt joined the

Nazi Party The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (german: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP), was a far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that created and supported t ...

(# 602,663) on 1 August 1931 and then joined the '' Sturmabteilung'' (SA) in November. In December 1932, he joined the ''

Schutzstaffel The ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS; also stylized as ''ᛋᛋ'' with Armanen runes; ; "Protection Squadron") was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany, and later throughout German-occupied Europe duri ...

'' (# 39,719) as a SS-''

Sturmbannführer __NOTOC__ ''Sturmbannführer'' (; ) was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank equivalent to major that was used in several Nazi organizations, such as the SA, SS, and the NSFK. The rank originated from German shock troop units of the First World War ...

'' (major) and was assigned as an adjutant to the staff of ''

Reichsführer-SS (, ) was a special title and rank that existed between the years of 1925 and 1945 for the commander of the (SS). ''Reichsführer-SS'' was a title from 1925 to 1933, and from 1934 to 1945 it was the highest rank of the SS. The longest-servi ...

Heinrich Himmler Heinrich Luitpold Himmler (; 7 October 1900 – 23 May 1945) was of the (Protection Squadron; SS), and a leading member of the Nazi Party of Germany. Himmler was one of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany and a main architect of th ...

replacing

Viktor Brack Viktor Hermann Brack (9 November 1904 – 2 June 1948) was a member of the ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) and a convicted Nazi war criminal, who was one of the prominent organisers of the euthanasia programme Aktion T4; this Nazi initiative resulted in the ...

. On 31 July 1933, he was promoted to SS-''

Obersturmbannführer __NOTOC__ ''Obersturmbannführer'' (Senior Assault-unit Leader; ; short: ''Ostubaf'') was a paramilitary rank in the German Nazi Party (NSDAP) which was used by the SA ('' Sturmabteilung'') and the SS (''Schutzstaffel''). The rank of ''Oberstu ...

'' (lt. colonel) and then to SS-'' Standartenführer'' (colonel) on 9 November of the same year. He was promoted to SS-''Oberführer'' (senior colonel) on 9 November 1934. Breithaupt served on Himmler's staff until 1 April 1936. Later on 9 November 1938 he was promoted to the rank of SS-''

Brigadeführer ''Brigadeführer'' (, ) was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) that was used between the years of 1932 to 1945. It was mainly known for its use as an SS rank. As an SA rank, it was used after briefly being known as ''Untergruppenf ...

'' (''Generalmajor''). Breithaupt also served as the Nazi Party deputy to the Reichstag between 1933 and 1945. He was assigned to the '' SS-Hauptamt'' in Berlin from 1 April 1936 to 1 January 1941. He served as the official ''Polizeipräsident'' (police president) of Breslau from 4 April 1941 to 15 August 1942. Breithaupt was promoted to SS-'' Gruppenführer und

Generalleutnant is the Germanic variant of lieutenant general, used in some German speaking countries. Austria Generalleutnant is the second highest general officer rank in the Austrian Armed Forces (''Bundesheer''), roughly equivalent to the NATO rank of ...

der

Waffen-SS The (, "Armed SS") was the combat branch of the Nazi Party's ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) organisation. Its formations included men from Nazi Germany, along with Waffen-SS foreign volunteers and conscripts, volunteers and conscripts from both occup ...

'' on 15 August 1942. Breithaupt was then chief of the ''

Hauptamt SS-Gericht The SS Court Main Office (german: Hauptamt SS-Gericht) - one of the 12 SS main departments - was the legal department of the SS in Nazi Germany. It was responsible for formulating the laws and codes for the SS and various other groups of the poli ...

'' (SS Court Main Office) from 15 August 1942 until his murder on 29 April 1945. This office was responsible for formulating the laws and codes for the SS and police, conducting its own investigations and trials, as well as administering the SS and Police Courts and

penal Penal is a town in south Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago. It lies south of San Fernando, Princes Town, and Debe, and north of Moruga, Morne Diablo and Siparia. It was originally a rice- and cocoa-producing area but is now a rapidly expanding and ...

systems. This legal status meant all SS personnel were only accountable to the ''Hauptamt SS Gericht''. This effectively placed the SS above German law, enabling its members to live by its own rules and conventions. The ''Hauptamt SS Gericht'' headquarters were the high court offices in

Munich Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the third-largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Ha ...

. The ''Hauptamt SS Gericht'' had 605 lawyers that passed sentences on members of the German armed forces and SS. Breithaupt was last promoted in rank to SS-''

Obergruppenführer ' (, "senior group leader") was a paramilitary rank in Nazi Germany that was first created in 1932 as a rank of the ''Sturmabteilung'' (SA) and adopted by the ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) one year later. Until April 1942, it was the highest commissio ...

und General der Waffen-SS'' on 20 April 1944.

Death

Breithaupt was murdered by gunshot by his aide SS-''

Untersturmführer (, ; short: ''Ustuf'') was a paramilitary rank of the German ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) first created in July 1934. The rank can trace its origins to the older SA rank of ''Sturmführer'' which had existed since the founding of the SA in 1921. ...

'' (2nd lieutenant) Karl Lang in

Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the ''Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard wor ...

on 29 April 1945.

Awards and decorations

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (german: link=no, Eisernes Kreuz, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1871–1918) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). King Frederick William III of Prussia es ...

(1914), 2nd (22 November 1914) and 1st class (31 May 1916) * Military Merit Order, 4th class with Swords (Bavaria, 22 February 1915) * Friedrich Cross (Anhalt, 25 November 1915) *

Cross for Merit in War The Cross for Merit in War (german: Kreuz für Verdienste im Kriege) was a military decoration of the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen established by Bernhard III, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen on 7 March 1915. Criteria The Cross for Merit in War was awarded to ...

(Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, 4 March 1916) * Knight's Cross of the Royal

House Order of Hohenzollern The House Order of Hohenzollern (german: Hausorden von Hohenzollern or ') was a dynastic order of knighthood of the House of Hohenzollern awarded to military commissioned officers and civilians of comparable status. Associated with the various ...

with swords (9 June 1917) * Military Merit Cross, 2nd class (Mecklenburg-Schwerin, 1 September 1917) *

Wound Badge The Wound Badge (german: Verwundetenabzeichen) was a German military decoration first promulgated by Wilhelm II, German Emperor on 3 March 1918, which was first awarded to soldiers of the German Army who were wounded during World War I. Between ...

of 1918 in black and silver (10 August 1918) * Nazi Party Long Service Award in Bronze * Commander's Cross with swords of the Ducal

Saxe-Ernestine House Order The Saxe-Ernestine House Order (german: link=yes, Sachsen-Ernestinischer Hausorden)Hausorden
Herz ...

(1 December 1935) * Olympic Games Decoration, 1st class (16 August 1936) * Grand Officer Cross of the Imperial Order of Manchurian (17 January 1941) *

War Merit Cross The War Merit Cross (german: Kriegsverdienstkreuz) was a state decoration of Nazi Germany during World War II. By the end of the conflict it was issued in four degrees and had an equivalent civil award. A " de-Nazified" version of the War Meri ...

, 2nd class (1 May 1942), 1st class with Swords (30 January 1943) * Commander of the

Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary The Hungarian Order of Merit ( hu, Magyar Érdemrend) is the fourth highest State Order of Hungary. Founded in 1991, the order is a revival of an original order founded in 1946 and abolished in 1949. Its origins, however, can be traced to the O ...

(30 July 1942) * Badge of Honor for Caring for the German Volk, 2nd class (30 January 1943)

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Breithaupt, Franz 1880 births 1945 deaths Military personnel from Berlin SS-Obergruppenführer Commander's Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (military) Prussian Army personnel 20th-century Freikorps personnel People from the Province of Brandenburg Waffen-SS personnel Judges in the Nazi Party Deaths by firearm in Austria Male murder victims German murder victims People murdered in Austria German Army personnel of World War I