Rudolf Bamler
German general during World War II From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rudolf Bamler (6 May 1896 – 13 March 1972) was a German general during World War II. Although Bamler was a member of the Nazi Party[1] he would later serve as a leading member of the East German security forces.
Rudolf Bamler | |
|---|---|
| Born | 6 May 1896 Osterburg (Altmark), Province of Saxony, Prussia, German Empire |
| Died | 13 March 1972 (aged 77) Groß Glienicke, East Germany |
| Allegiance |  German Empire Weimar Republic Nazi GermanyNKFD (to 1945)  East Germany |
| Service | |
| Years of service | 1914–45; 1948–56 |
| Rank | Generalleutnant of the Wehrmacht Generalmajor of the KVP |
| Commands | 12th Infantry Division |
| Battles / wars | World War I World War II |
| Other work | Main Directorate for Reconnaissance |
Bamler was born in Osterburg (Altmark), Saxony-Anhalt, the son of Protestant clergyman Johannes Bamler (born 1864) and his wife Anna Garlipp (1873-1932).[2] He enlisted in the Prussian Army and served in the First World War with the 15th Division.[3]
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Bamler was attached to the Abwehr as the head of section III (counterespionage) and here he helped to encourage closer co-operation with the Gestapo and Sicherheitsdienst (SD).[4] This role also meant that Bamler maintained a network of informers across German society rivalled only by that of the SD.[5] Although he had a difficult personal relationship with his superior Wilhelm Canaris the two co-operated closely in supporting Canaris' friend Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War.[6]
Following the outbreak of the Second World War Bamler was appointed Chief of Staff of Wehrkreis VII (Munich) before a transfer to the same role in XX (Danzig).[7] Bamler was then made Chief of Staff to the XXXXVII Panzer Corps in 1940.[7] From 1942 to 1944 he was Chief of Staff[8] to the German Army in Norway under Generaloberst Nikolaus von Falkenhorst, having risen to the rank of lieutenant general.[9]
Bamler was then moved to the Eastern Front and from 1 to 27 June he was commander of the 121st Infantry Division, before being replaced by Helmuth Prieß.[10] He was simultaneously commander of the 12th Infantry Division, with Gerhard Engel his replacement.[11] Bamler's commands ended as he had surrendered to the Red Army on 27 June 1944 after commanding the 12th Infantry Division defending the town of Mogilev which had recently been surrounded during Operation Bagration. The German troops in Mogilev were eventually defeated by the Soviet onslaught with the last radio message from the town coming from General Bamler requesting that "Captain Opke of Artillery Regiment 12 receive the Oak Leaves to the Knights Cross for repeated outstanding military exploits". This message was sent at 10 o'clock in the evening and received an hour and 14 minutes later, this would be the last message from Mogilev.[12] Following his capture by Soviet troops he later defected to the Soviet Union.[7]
Bamler settled in East Germany and worked as a Stasi police officer there from 1946 until his retirement in 1962.[7] He also held the rank of major general in the Kasernierte Volkspolizei.[13] He died in Groß Glienicke aged 77.[14]
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