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Joachim Ziegler (2 October 1904 – 2 May 1945) was born in Hanau in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis, in Hesse, Germany. Ziegler rose to the rank of SS-''Brigadeführer und Generalmajor'' in the ''Waffen-SS'' during World War II. He was the commander of the 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division ''Nordland'', and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II, the Oak Leaves being a second award. ==Career== Ziegler was awarded the Spanish Cross for his participation in the Spanish Civil War, fighting in the ''Condor'' Legion. In 1939 he served as the adjutant in the 3rd Panzer Brigade and on 23 September 1939 he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class followed by a 1st class award on 28 June 1940. On 14 March 1943 he was promoted to ''Oberst'' and served on the General Staff of the XXXXII Army Corps. He was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 15 March 1943 and later was invited by the ''Wehrmacht'' to a command position in the ''Waffen-SS''. His SS number was 491,403. From 20 June 1943 Ziegler was the Chief of General Staff of the III (Germanic) SS Panzer Corps, and in November 1943 he was granted permission to wear an SS uniform for the duration of his command. When Fritz von Scholz was killed in action on 28 July 1944, he was asked to take over command of the 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division ''Nordland''. On 5 September 1944 he was awarded the Knights Cross for the conduct of the division in action and the Oak Leaves in April 1945. During the Battle of Berlin, SS-''Brigadeführer'' Gustav Krukenberg was appointed on 25 April 1945 the commander of (Berlin) Defence Sector C which included the ''Nordland'' Division. Ziegler was relieved of his command of ''Nordland'' the same day. The exact reason for the transfer of the ''Nordland'' command is not clearly known.〔Beevor 2002, pp. 301, 302.〕 It was requested by General Helmuth Weidling.〔Beevor 2002, p. 291.〕 After Hitler's death Krukenberg assembled most of his escort made up of French volunteers of the SS ''Charlemagne'' Division for the breakout of Berlin. They joined up with Ziegler and a larger group of ''Nordland'' troops. They crossed the Spree just before dawn. Near the Gesundbrunnen U-Bahn station they came under heavy fire and Ziegler was gravely wounded. Ziegler died from his wounds on 2 May 1945.〔Beevor 2002, p. 383.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Joachim Ziegler」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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