Othmar Pollmann

Othmar Pollmann
Birth name	Ottmar Anton Pollmann
Birth date	25 September 1917(1917-09-25)
Place of birth	Regensburg, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire
Death date	11 September 1991 (aged 73)
Place of death	Munich, Bavaria, Germany
Allegiance	National Socialist Germany West Germany
Service/branch	Heer Amt „Blank“ Bundeswehr
Years of service	1936–1945 1953–1955 1955–1975
Rank	Major Colonel
Unit	Grenadier-Regiment 481
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Relations	∞ Sophie Monika Anna Oberbauer
Other work	Dr. phil.

Ottmar Anton Pollmann (25 September 1917 – 11 September 1991) was a German officer, finally Major of the Wehrmacht and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during WWII as well as Colonel of the Bundeswehr in the post-war time. He was an official member of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients and of the Historical Association for Upper Palatinate and Regensburg (Historischer Verein für Oberpfalz und Regensburg).

Life

From left to right: General Paul Danhauser, the freshly awarded and promoted Unteroffizier (NCO) Paul Weiß (1913–1945; Knight's Cross on 16 September 1943 as Obergefreiter), Colonel Joachim-Friedrich Lang and Major Othmar Pollmann.

10 times wounded

From left to right: Major General Lang, Captain Büsing und division adjutant Major Pollmann on 5 March 1945 in Weidehnen; Büsing received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and Pollmann the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for the liberation of Thierenberg (East Prussia) which had been occupied by the Red Army.

Othmar was born the son of music direktor Johann "Hans" Pollmann and his wife Aloisia "Luise", née Hubmann. After attending school and Gymnasium with an excellent Abitur, Pollmann joined the Reich Labour Service (Reichsarbeitsdienst; RAD) for his compulsory service starting as Arbeitsmann on 1 October 1936 Regensburg (swearing-in on 4 October) until being released prematurely on 30 November 1936 because his application to the Wehrmacht as a career officer (from April 1936) had been approved.

On 4 December 1936, Pollmann joined the 6th Company/2nd Training Battalion/Infanterie-Regiment 20 (10. Infanterie-Division) in his Bavarian hometown of Regensburg and was sworn in two days later on 6 December 1936. From 17 October 1937 to 2 July 1938, he was commanded to the War School (Kriegsschule) in Potsdam. On 26 August 1939, 2nd Lieutenant Pollmann was transferred to the 3rd Company/1st Battalion of the new Infanterie-Regiment 481 in Weiden.

WWII

Shortly after the outbreak of war, the regiment moved to the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia to complete its training there as an occupying force. The staff moved to Deutschbrod, as did the 1st Battalion. From 18 to 21 February 1940, the regiment moved to the Wesel area (Westwall). Accommodation rooms included Goch, Üdem and Hassum. On 24 April 1940, Pollmann was transferred to the staff of the 3rd Battalion. From 10 May 1940, the regiment took part in the western campaign. On the first day of the campaign, the regiment managed to take the Meuse bridge near Gennep in Holland in a swift coup de main. Pollmann was wounded on 31 May 1940 by shrapnel, including in the left eye. After France surrendered, the regiment marched to St. Pierre-de-Piesguen on the Channel coast by 4 July. From here the regiment took over direct coastal protection.

On 7 March 1941, the regiment left the Channel coast and moved by train from St. Malo via Compiègne and Düsseldorf to Puppen. From 22 June 1941, the regiment took part in the Russian campaign. The regiment crossed the border at Nowy Dwor and entered Kuznica on 24 June, where it was able to secure the bridges over the Lossossna undamaged. The regiment formed a bridgehead and went into defense around Kuznica. On 27 June, the advance south continued to prevent Russian units from breaking out of the Bialystok pocket. On 29 June 1941, the regiment reached the area around Ros. Here the regiment had two days of rest. On 2 July, Pollmann was transferred to the 11th Company on this day (appointed commander), the regiment began its march to Polotsk, which was reached on 18 July. The regiment took on security tasks here, searched the area for weapons and stragglers and secured several river crossings. On 30 July, the security mission of the regiment, which was deployed to protect the Smolensk pocket in Vitebsk (1st Battalion), in Newel (IInd Battalion) and in Polotsk (Staff and IIIrd Battalion), ended.

Pollmann would stay with the regiment at the Eastern Front and serve as commander of the 5th Company and with the 1st Battalion (he was hit by shrapnel in the face on 11 August 1942), becomimg commander of the 2nd Battalion on 1 December 1942. He was wounded several times, which the scares in his face showed. On 27 August 1943, he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the award ceremony took place on 1 September 1943 and was led by division commander Generalleutnant Paul Dannhauser. On 5 January 1944, he was wounded for the 10th and last time. He had been shot in jaw and right lower leg and spent until October 1944 in military hospital and in rehabilitation.

He was placed into the leader's reserve (Führerreserve) from 25 October 1944 to 3 January 1945 and attended a course for senior adjutantry from 25 October to 20 December 1944, subsequently receiving some leave. On 4 January 1945, he was transferred as adjutant to the 95. Infanterie-Division under Joachim-Friedrich Lang. One day before the attack on occupied Thierenberg, the commander of the Grenadier-Regiment 279 passed out due to severe exhaustion. Division commander Lang delegated Major Pollmann in the evening with the leadership of this regiment. Along with the Grenadier-Regiment 280, Pollmanns regiment stormed at 2:10 a.m., with hand grenades and Panzerfausts, from house to house. The Russian units were from the 91st Russian Guards Rifle Division. They were dug in well and had a vast amount of weapons and most modern material, including 20 trucks and 69 America Ford GPA (General Purpose Amphibian). Thierenberg was liberated on this day, but the mill on the outskirts was still held by the enemy. Pollmann was given the task, to take the mill and surrounding buildings on 7 February 1945. Of his own accord and without waiting for the promised assault guns, he attacked the enemy's flank and destroyed them. 205 Russians were killed in the brutal close-combat fighting, 18 taken prisoner. A larger number of French POWs were also freed. They had been serving as harvest helpers in the east and were abducted by the Russians.

After Thierenberg, Pollmann led his regiment to Kojehnen and closed the gap between XXVIII and IX German Corps. On 28 February 1945, he would receive the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. On 15 March 1945, at 8:30 p.m. in Willkau, Pollmann received the order to take a waiting plane at Neutief airport on 16 March 1945 at 2:15 a.m., which was to fly him to Berlin. The award ceremony (Ritterkreuzverleihungszeremonie) took place there on 18 march 1945 in the Führerbunker. Pollmann was horrified by the state of the German capital, which was being attacked from the east. It can be assumed that he never returned to the division, but this cannot be proven. On 17 (other sources state 13) April 1945, he was placed at disposal of the Army High Command (OKH) at Maybach I, a series of above and underground bunkers built 20 kilometres south of Berlin in Wünsdorf near Zossen, Brandenburg, serving as adjutant the the General of the Infantry (General der Infanterie). At midday on 20 April the OKH evacuated to Eiche near Potsdam and the OKW to Krampnitz. From here, Pollmann and others fought there way to the south and became American POWs in Tirol.

Defence of East Prussia

The intact XXVIII Corps (Gollnick) with its two fully combat-capable divisions, the 95th (Lang) and the 58th (Siewert) and with a security division finally arrived from Memel. The 95th Division, mobile forces ahead, marched at the front and immediately attacked Bledau, southeast of Cranz, into the fighting that was going on there against the Russians. The heavy cruiser “Prinz Eugen” with her guns took over the division. These powerful volleys promoted the offensive momentum of their own troops and paralyzed the enemy's will to resist through their powerful explosive effect. New incoming German units reinforced the front. The XXVIII Corps proposed to the 3rd Panzer Army, to which it was subordinate, the following plan: breakthrough of the corps after meeting at Cranz in the direction of Königsberg, producing one continuous front from Königsberg to Cranz, destruction of the enemy forces standing west of this line and gaining a new one base of operations. [...] After rejecting the attack in the direction of Königsberg, the XXVIII Corps knew that all that was left now was to fight for connection with the 3rd Panzer Army whose remnants fought east and northeast of Fischhausen. The attack in the direction of Neukuhren-Pobethen began ion 3 February 1945. Droves of refugees came along because they realized that they could only survive and escape the Russians under the protection of the German troops.

Then the Corps turned to the southwest to attack occupied Thierenberg, because south of it the northern wing of the 3rd Panzer Army was supposed to stand. In very difficult battles the 58th and 95th Divisions had fought their way forward so far. The attack on Thierenberg was particularly hard because this place proved to be a strong enemy base. On 6 February 1945, the brave grenadiers of the 95th Division stormed Thierenberg, liberated the town and made contact with the 3rd Panzer Army positioned south. The security forces (Sicherungskräfte) cleaned the Warnicker Forest southwest of Rauschen, and other units pushed the enemy around Germau in battles lasting several days and more together and finalyy destroyed the Russians. The western part of the Samland was now freed from the enemy. The front now ran from north to south: from the Baltic Sea eastwards Neukuhren via Pobethen–Thierenberg–Norgau–west of Powayen and further south to the lagoon. The population immediately began to flee to Pillau because they had experienced terrible things at the hands of the Russian soldiers. [...] The plight of those fleeing people in the icy days of January and February felt cramped the hearts of those witnessing together. The first major attack by Russian bomber units took place on 5 February 1945 against the city of Pillau, which was overflowing with Vertriebene. Hundreds were killed under the rubble of collapsing houses and hundreds through the hardships of flight and the bitter cold. Ship after ship entered the harbor (Operation Hannibal) and took everyone on board who somehow found space. It was always too little with this excess of people with their terrible suffering.

Post-WWII

After war and release by the Americans, Pollmann enrolled at the University of Würzburg as a history student under Prof. Dr. Kurt gerstenberg and Prof. Dr. Emil Kieser (18961993). He received his doctorate in 1952. From November 1953 to 1955, he served as a consultant (Referent) at the Blank Office and in the Federal Ministry of Defense (BMVg), since 1954 as head of the department II/B/4 (supervision of the troops). In 1955, he joined th Bundeswehr as a Major but was promoted Lieutenant Colonel the same year. Until 1959 he led the Unterabteilung IV Β, later Fü Β I. From 1959 to 1962, he was commander of the Panzergrenadierbataillon 282 in Donauwörth. In 1962, he was appointed teaching group commander of the Army Officer School III (Lehrgruppenkommandeur der Heeresoffizierschule III) in München. From 18 January to 28 June 1967, he taught at the NATO Defense College in Rome. From 1967 to 1970, he was teaching group commander at the Bundeswehr School for Internal Leadership, from 1970 to 1975, he was head of the School Staff Army Officer School III. He retired on 30 September 1975.

Promotions

Wehrmacht

• 4 December 1936 Fahnenjunker (Officer Candidate)
• 1 June 1937 Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter
• 1 September 1937 Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier
• 1 March 1938 Fähnrich (Officer Cadet)
• 1 June 1938 Oberfähnrich (Senior Officer Cadet)
• 1 September 1938 Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
• 1 August 1940 Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
• 1 December 1942 Hauptmann (Captain) with Rank Seniority (RDA) from 1 April 1942
• 1 May 1943 Major

Bundeswehr

• 1955 Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel)
• 1965 Oberst (Colonel)

Awards and decorations

• DLRG basic certificate (Grundschein) of the German Life Saving Association (Abzeichnen der Deutschen Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft)
• German Reich Sport Badge (Deutsches Reichssportabzeichen) in Bronze
• West Wall Medal (Deutsches Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen)
• Iron Cross (1939), 2nd and 1st Class
  • 2nd Class (31 May 1940)
  • 1st Class (11 November 1940)
• Wound Badge (1939) in Black, Silver and Gold
  • in Black (29 June 1940)
  • in Silver (18 July 1942)
  • in Gold (14 September 1942)
• Infantry Assault Badge (Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen) in Silver (1 December 1941)
• Eastern Front Medal (24 July 1942)
• Close Combat Clasp in Bronze and Silver
  • in Bronze (14 November 1943)
  • in Silber (25 February 1945)
• German Cross in Gold on 11 October 1942 as Oberleutnant and Commander of the 5. Company/Infanterie-Regiment 481
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 27 August 1943 as Major and Commander of the II. Bataillon/Grenadier-Regiment 481/256. Infanterie-Division
  • 760th Oak Leaves on 28 February 1945 as Major, Leader of the Grenadier-Regiment 279 and IIa (1st Adjutant—personnel administration for officers) of the 95. Infanterie-Division/Armee-Abteilung Samland/Heeresgruppe Nord

Post-WWII

• Pin of honor (Ehrennadel) of the city of Donauwörth
• Pin of honor (Ehrennadel) of the city of Regensburg
• Golden Honour Cross of the Vatican (Signum Honoris "Pro Ecclesia et Pontefice")
• NATO Defense College Medal
• American Military Order of Saint Barbara
• Commemorative Medal of the French Combined Arms School (École Militaire Interarmes), Promotion Général Brosset

Writings (excerpt)

• Der Amazonenmythos in der nachantiken Kunst bis zum Ende des Barocks – Wiedergeburt und Wandel eines antiken Mythos, Dissertation, Würzburg 1952
• Truppen-Betreuung und Freizeitpflege – Sorge um den Menschen, in: "Handbuch Innere Führung", 1957, pp. 159–166
• Heeresoffizierschule III München, 1958–1974. Ein Portrait, Heeresoffizierschule III, München 1974

Further reading

German sources

• Franz Thomas: Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945, Band 1: A–K (in German), Biblio-Verlag, Osnabrück 1998, ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6
• Walther-Peer Fellgiebel: Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile (in German), Podzun-Pallas, Wölfersheim 2000, ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6
  • English: The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches, expanded edition, 2000
• Klaus D. Patzwall / Veit Scherzer: Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941–1945 Geschichte und Inhaber, Band II (in German), Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt 2001, ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8
• Veit Scherzer: Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German), Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag, Jena 2007, ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2

See also

• Thierenberg massacre

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