Generalmajor Wilhelm Viebig

PW NO: 18897

RANK: Generalmajor

CAPTURED: Niederluetzingen, Germany

DATE: 9 March 1945

PERSONAL
DATE OF BIRTH: 3 June 1899

PLACE OF BIRTH: Horst bei Blumenthal/Ostpriegnitz

DATE OF DEATH:

PLACE OF DEATH:

NATIONALITY: German

RELIGION: Regular Soldier

OCCUPATION: Regular Soldier

HEIGHT: 5' 11"

WEIGHT: 147 lbs

HAIR COLOUR: Fair
EYE COLOUR: Blue

NEXT OF KIN: Svea Viebig, Westfalen, Graefl Haus Bad Driburg (British Zone)

Parents: Rittergutspächter Wilhelm and Martha (née Pfister) Viebig.

Wife: Married Svea von Krieger on 6 December 1933 – two daughters.

Promotions:

Fahnenjunker: 3 September 1916
Leutnant: 14 August 1917
Oberleutnant: 1 April 1925
Hauptmann: 1 April 1933
Major: 1 January 1937
Oberstleutnant: 1 April 1940
Oberst: 1 February 1942
Generalmajor: 1 January 1945

Commands & Assignments:

3 September 1916: Entered the Army as a Fahnenjunker in the Feld-Artillerie-Regiment General-Feldzeugmeister (1. Brandenburgisches) Nr.3.
23 December 1918: Transferred to the Processing Office of Field Artillery Regiment 3.
1 February 1919: Transferred to Light Reichswehr Artillery Regiment 3 of Reichswehr-Brigade 3.
1 Jan 1921 Transferred to the 4th (Mounted) Battalion of the 3rd (Prussian) Artillery Regiment upon the formation of the new Reichsheer from the Übergangsheer or Transitional Army.
1 March 1930: Detached to the Cavalry School, later transferred.
1 October 1936: Chief of a mounted artillery battery.
1 October 1937: Commander of the II. Battalion of Artillery Regiment 23 of the 23rd Infantry Division.
1 September 1939: Commander of Artillery Regiment 257 of the 257th Infantry Division.
1 December 1941: Staff Officer for Artillery in the General Staff of the Army High Command “von Manstein.”
1 January 1942: Commander of Artillery Regiment 23 of the 23rd Infantry Division.
September 1942-15 May 1944: Commander of Panzer Artillery Regiment 93 of the 26th Panzer Division in Belgium, France and Italy.
15 May 1944: Transferred to the Army High Command Leader in Wehrkreis III.
10 August 1944: Delegated with the leadership of the 277th Volksgrenadier Division on the Western Front. [In December 1944, Oberst Viebig’s division took part in the German Ardennes Offensive, better known as the Battle of the Bulge. A weak unit with few veteran officers or non-commissioned officers, the 277th Volksgrenadier Division attacked American positions at Krinkelt-Rocherath in front of the Elsenborn Ridge on the morning of 16 December 1944. Tasked with opening a route for the SS panzers to exploit, the division suffered heavy losses trying to dislodge the stubborn American defenders. Despite determined attacks by Viebig’s division supported by the 12th SS-Panzer Division “Hitler Jugend,” the Germans never captured or outflanked the vital Elsenborn Ridge.]
1 January 1945-7 March 1945: Commander of the 277th Volksgrenadier Division on the Western Front.
9 March 1945-17 May 1948: Prisoner of war in British captivity.
- 24 April 1945 transferred to Trent Park Camp 11 sorting camp.
- 23 July 1946 transferred to Island Farm Special Camp 11 from Camp 300
- 13 May 1948 transferred to Camp 186 for repatriation.
September 1948-1951: Riding Instructor with the Royal Horse Guards of the British occupation army in Germany.
From 1952: Trained the military riders of the German Olympic Committee at Warendorf.
From 1 April 1953: Director of the stables at Warendorf.

Decorations & Awards (included):

German Cross in Gold: 25 January 1942, Oberst, Commander of Artillery Regiment 257.
Prussian Iron Cross, 1st Class (1914) with 1939 Bar
Prussian Iron Cross, 2nd Class (1914) with 1939 Bar
Mecklenburg-Strelitz Merit Cross for Distinction in War, 2nd Class
Cross of Honor for Combatants 1914-1918
Armed Forces Long Service Awards