Bio Karl Wolff

Karl Wolff is second from the left in this 1941 photo taken in Russia. On the far left is Hermann Fegelein (then commander of the SS Kavallerie-Brigade) and on the far right is HSSPF Erich von dem Bach. Heinrich Himmler is speaking to Fegelein. Born in Darmstadt on May 13, 1900, Wolff joined the Army in April, 1917, and ended the conflict as a Leutnant in the infantry having won both classes of the Iron Cross. He served in the Freikorps during 1919 as a company commander then left the Army in May, 1920. After studying law and political economics he worked as a bank clerk, then ran his own advertising agency until it dissolved in 1931. Joining the NSDAP and SS on October 7, 1931, he first served with the 2./11./1 .SS-Standarte. On January 19, 1932, he took command of his Sturm until mid- September, 1932, and was commissioned as an SS-Sturmfiihrer on February 18, 1932. From September 20, 1932, to mid-March, 1933, he was adjutant of the IUI. SS-Standarte and was promoted to SS-Sturmhauptführer on January 30, 1933. /4.v adjutant to Franz Ritter von Epp (then Reich Commissioner for Bavaria) he served from mid-March to mid-June, 1933, and attended the first SS course at the Reich Leader School during Februar)1, 1932. Promoted to SS Sturmbannführer on November 9, 1933, and to SS-Obersturmbannführer on January 30, 1934, he was Himmler's personal adjutant from March, 1934, to November, 1935. He then was upgraded to Himmler's chief adjutant as well as being chief of Himmler's personal staff after that command was combined with the post of chief adjutant in November 1936. Holding this combined assignment until until June, 1939, he was also a member of the Reichstag from March, 1933 to May, 1945. Promoted to SS-Standartenfiihrer on April 20, 1934, to SS-Oberführer on July 4, 1934, to SS-Brigadeführer on November 9, 1935 and to SS-Gruppenführer on January 30, 1937, he was Chief of the Personal Staff Main Office from June, 1939 to May, 1945 but a designated deputy commanded in his place after February, 1943. On May 3, 1940, he became a Generalleutnant der WaJfen-SS. Promoted to SSObergruppenfiihrer und General der Waffen-SS on January 30, 1942, from August, 1939, to February, 1943, Wolff served as Himmler's liaison officer in Hitler's headquarters and then became HSSPF "Oberitalien West. " When that post expanded he became the HöSSPF "Italien " in September, 1943. He was also military governor for northern Italy from February to October, 1943 and official representative for the Wehrmacht in Italy from August, 1944, to May, 1945. From February to May, 1945, he was titular commander of the 29.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (italienische Nr. 1) though actual command was undertaken by his chief of staff (and later his deputy). Among his awards were the Gold Party Badge, the Olympic Games Decoration 1st class, both classes of the Iron Cross, the Reich's Sports Badge in Silver, the War Service Cross with Swords 1st class, the Social Welfare Badge and finally the German Cross in Gold awarded on December 9, 1944. A natural diplomat, he endured Himmler's abuse and acted as a buffer between his chief and the numerous personalities around him though he himself made enemies including RSHA Chief Ernst Kaltenbrunner. He incured Himmler's wrath when the latter refused to grant his divorce, Wolff then obtaining permission directly from Hitler. Wolff prevented implementation of the scorched earth policy in Italy and later testified at the Nuremberg Trials. Arrested in 1962, he served a term in prison from 1964 to 1971 for transporting Italian Jews and died in Rosenheim on July 17, 1984. (National Archives).

Source :
Book "Allgemeine-SS: The Commands, Units & Leaders of the General SS" by Mark C. Yerger