Thread by @Boilerplated

Helmuth von Pannwitz (1898-1947), Lt. Gen. of the 1st Cossack Cavalry Division, Obergruppenführer & Feldataman of the XV SS Cossack Cavalry Corps. A man who died in a Soviet prison because he stood by his men, when he could have abandoned them.

The second son of a district judge & Prussian nobility, Pannwitz was born in Upper Silesia. The land his father leased were situated by the Lisswarthe River, which formed the border between Silesia and Russian Poland.

Due to the proximity of Slavic people, had a significant impact on the young Pannwitz. Of greater significance was that the Pannwitz estate was in sight of a Russian barracks, which housed Cossacks cavalry.

As a young boy he spent substantial time riding, hunting, and swimming. The Cossacks watered their horse and bathed from the Lisswarthe. The Pannwitz boys were fascinated by the Cossacks and arranged to be at the river when the Cossacks were on patrol.

The Cossack liked the Pannwitz boys, talking to and giving gifts to them. The Pannwitzes were intrigued as the Cossacks sang their songs and told traditional stories. A young Helmuth had been placed upon a Cossacks' Steppe pony and the boy rode off at a gallop.

Helmuth visited the Cossack barracks on several occasions and ate with the soldiers. After the meal, he was treated to the traditional songs and displays of swordsmanship. As a young, impressionable boy, these experiences with the Cossacks left an indelible impression on him.

At the age of 11, Helmuth became a cadet at Wahlstatt, during vacations home he would continue his friendship with the Cossacks.

With the onset of WWI, he joined the 1st Lancers at the age of 16 as an Ensign, rapidly promoted to 2nd Lt., and by 18 awarded the Iron Cross First Class, one of the first in the regiment, for gallantry in action in the Carpathian Mountains.

After recovering from wounds received in this action, he served on the staff of General Fritz von Below, and in addition took part in the Isonzo offensive on the Italian front.

When the war ended, Pannwitz returned to Silesia and fought in the Freikorps against Polish insurgents in Upper Silesia again receiving wounds in action. He was demobilized on March 10, 1920 and, like so many German soldiers, sought to find a new life in a defeated and Germany.

In the early 30's, he managed the estate of Prince Radziwill, near Warsaw. This appointment came because the young von Pannwitz was not only
good at his job, but had developed an excellent understanding of the Slavic people and particularly Polish laborers.

Sometime in 1933-1934, he returned to Germany and rejoined the rapidly growing army. He was recommissioned as a cavalry officer on January 1, 1935, joining the 7th Cavalry Reg. . He spent the next three years as a captain commanding a squadron of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment.

General F.W. von Mellenthin describes him as a born leader who had the ability to develop an esprit de corps among his men. He also possessed a strong sense of history/tradition, causing him to promote a strong link between the emerging Wehrmacht and the old Imperial army.

The year 1938 saw Pannwitz promoted to the rank of major, and after the Austrian Anschluss he was appointed Squadron Commander of the newly created 11th Cavalry Reg. When the war broke out in 1939 this regiment was at first assigned various observation duties.

von Pannwitz's service in the Polish campaign brought him a 1939 clasp to his First World War Iron Cross. When the Russian campaign began in 1941, von Pannwitz was given command of an advance detachment which approached regimental strength.

The detachment crossed the River Bug at Brest Litovsk and often led the main German elements by 150 km. His leadership and daring were recognized at the beginning of August by promotion to Lt. Col. and the award of the coveted Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross.

Only a month later, von Pannwitz was nominated for yet another honor, the Oak Leaves’ Clasp to the Knight’s Cross.

Before this could be awarded von Pannwitz was transferred to General von Reichenau’s Sixth Army. Given the astounding successes of von Pannwitz’s unit, someone on von Reichenau’s staff concluded that he and his advance detachment could accomplish even greater objectives

He was given a mission, planned by von Reichenau’s staff, which, after he had reviewed it, von Pannwitz dubbed a Himmelfahrtskommando (a one-way ticket to eternity).

Consequently, Pannwitz told the General’s staff that he would only consent to this plan if some member of Reichenau’s staff could clearly show him its significance and how it would result in a decisive success for Germany. In return, he was not awarded the Oak Leaves’ Clasp

“Der Pann”, as he was called, always showed a strong concern for the welfare of his men. His successes in battle had shown his ability to deliver maximum gains with minimal losses, a formula which was well suited to his way of thinking.

His forward detachment was engaged from June 22, 1941 until November, 1941, with only 22 dead. His refusal of a command based on these beliefs required courage and lost him a highly-prized decoration. It was, however, in keeping with his character.

Shortly after, Pannwitz became ill and could no longer command mobile troops. In Dec. 1941 he was transferred to HQ, where he was assigned as an adviser to the general commanding German mobile troops.

On his own initiative, he began developing a plan for organizing the various Soviet nationalities into major combat units. He observed volunteer units and noted German poicy required many Soviets to work as Hiwis, driving trucks, working in kitchens and loading supplies.

Many of the proposed combat units were regulated to guard/anti-partisan duties. In von Pannwitz's opinion, Soviet people had to have an active role in the liberation of their people. His plan called for combat units composed of former Soviet citizens and trained under supervision

Through his various assignment with the High Command, he became aware of Cossack recon units serving in the Don, Kuban, and Terek regions. He centered his plan on the Cossacks due to their reputation and the respect he had for them as a young boy.

From his days as a boy, which grew into a genuine love for Slavic people and an understanding of their languages, customs and beliefs, caused him to ignore the Unterm*nsch theories and proceed to mobilize the Cossacks.

To assist his cause, two highly placed allies shared his views, General Zeitzler - Wehrmacht's Chief of Staff in 1942 and Field Marshal von Kleist. In Sept. 1942, Pannwitz flew to the Don, Kuban and Terek areas to develop ties with the hosts.

Kleist had overrun the area and was a strong supporter of better treatment for Soviet citizens and concept of seeking a political solution to the war in the east. With the Caucasus under military jurisdiction, Pannwitz was free to work among the hosts and promote his ideas.

Pannwitz was successful in developing close ties with the Cossack hosts. His greatest success was in securing the support of Ataman Nicholas Kulakov of the Terek Host. Kulakov would serve Pannwitz until the end of the war as a superb officer and a dedicated soldier.

Before he left, Pannwitz met with von Kleist. The Field Marshal told him that he had already recommended the large scale requirement of Soviet citizens into the army and recommended Pannwitz as Command of Cossack forces. This was the beginning of the Cossack Division.

Returning to HQ, Pannwitz began the task of locating personnel and equipment for the establish of the Cossack Cavalry Division. There was resistance from German commanders who did not want to lose their local Cossack units, a compliment to the worth and ability of the Cossack.

Political Officials, such as Reichskommisar Eric Koch and Reichsleiter Martin Bormann were of the opinion that no Slav would ever be worthy to wear the Feldgrau of the army. The standing order which forbade the creation of volunteer units larger than a battalion.

Their objections were outweighed by the weighty support of H*mmler's SS and H*mmler's fascination with ethnic groups like the Cossacks, von Pannwitz had another ally.

Recognizing the threat of the anti-Slavic element and uncertain of Hitler's reaction to the creation of a full division of Cossacks, Pannwitz developed a strategy. During the organizational phase, the word Cossack was not officially used in reference to the division.

Instead the proposed unit was called Reiterverband Pannwitz or Cavalry Task Force Pannwitz. Once the division was organized and recruited its true identity could be revealed.

These plans were interrupted in Nov. 1942, when the Soviets encircled Stalingrad and the 6th Army, which also threatened von Kleist's forces in the Caucasus. Pannwitz was given command of a battle group designed to cover the southern flank of General Hoth's Panzer Group.

When he asked about the location of his battle group, Zeitzler wired "Die müssen Sie sich suchen", von Pannwitz had to put the battle group together.

With energy, Pannwitz collected military cooks, replacement personnel and a volunteer cavalry brigade, total of 1k men. From a tank repair facility, he took 18 tanks. Shortly, he wiped out both a Soviet cavalry brigade/division and infantry division. The flank was stabilized.

As a result, he was awarded the Oak Leave for his Knight's Cross, shown with the award in an official photo. In Jan. 1943 he travelled to Berlin to receive his award from the Fuhrer. At the ceremony, H*lter surprised Pannwitz twice with his memory.

First, meeting Pannwitz in May 1939 when he was assigned to the 11th Cavalry. But even more surprising, asking Pannwitz of the Cossacks. H*lter knew after all. Using the comment as a cue, Pannwitz told him that a unit that helped him was a cavalry unit composed of volunteers.

Being forthright, he told the Fuhrer that the official policies which caused Slavs to be regarded as s*bhumans and excluded any political future for Russia were wrong. If Germany was to succeed in her attempt to destroy Bolshevism, then the policy towards Slavs had to be changed.

H*tler listened politely but without comment and Pannwitz was dismissed. This brief audience was highly significant, since it was clear H*tler knew of Pannwitz's plans with the Cossack. Since H*tler mentioned the issue, this indicated tacit approval of the project.

The Fuhrer's tolerance of Pannwitz's polite anti-Ostpolitik comments indicated his respect for the honored officer. With the apparent acceptance of Pannwitz's activities, the creation of the Cossack division seemed imminent.

That is where I will end today. This shows the life of von Pannwitz right up to the official creation of the 1st Cossack Cavalry Division, in April 1943.