Gustav Knittel - Revision history

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	~~[[de:Knittel, Gustav]]~~

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	{{Infobox military person		{{Infobox military person
	\|name=Gustav Knittel		\|name=Gustav Knittel
	\|image=[[File:GustavKnittel.~~jpg~~\|250px]]		\|image=[[File:GustavKnittel.png\|250px]]
	\|caption=		\|caption=
	\|birth_date={{birth date\|1914\|11\|27\|df=y}}		\|birth_date={{birth date\|1914\|11\|27\|df=y}}
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	==Life==		==Life==
	[[File:Gustav Knittel an der Kriegsfront.~~jpg~~\|right\|310px]]		[[File:Gustav Knittel an der Kriegsfront.png\|right\|310px]]
	=== Early life ===		=== Early life ===
	[[File:Gustav Knittel, SS-Tarn-Feldbluse.~~jpg~~\|right\|310px]]		[[File:Gustav Knittel, SS-Tarn-Feldbluse.png\|right\|310px]]
	Gustav Knittel was born in Neu-Ulm, in Bavaria, on 27 November 1914. He had a fraternal twin brother Bernhard and two sisters. His parents Bernhard senior and Theresia (née Pfinder) ran a bakery in Neu-Ulm, Schützenstraße 52. Knittel attended the Volksschule and Realschule in Ulm and the Oberrealschule in Göppingen.<ref name="SS Personalakten - Record Group 242, Publication A3343, SSO, Roll 185 (NARA)">SS Personalakten - Record Group 242, Publication A3343, SSO, Roll 185 (NARA)</ref>		Gustav Knittel was born in Neu-Ulm, in Bavaria, on 27 November 1914. He had a fraternal twin brother Bernhard and two sisters. His parents Bernhard senior and Theresia (née Pfinder) ran a bakery in Neu-Ulm, Schützenstraße 52. Knittel attended the Volksschule and Realschule in Ulm and the Oberrealschule in Göppingen.<ref name="SS Personalakten - Record Group 242, Publication A3343, SSO, Roll 185 (NARA)">SS Personalakten - Record Group 242, Publication A3343, SSO, Roll 185 (NARA)</ref>

	===Early career ===		===Early career ===
	[[File:Gustav Knittel VI.~~jpg~~\|thumb\|300px\|Military vehicle"Schwimwagen" (Volkswagen Typ 166 Schwimmwagen) and Panther tanks of the "[[LSSAH]]"; Driving: Gustav Knittel, November 1943.]]		[[File:Gustav Knittel VI.png\|thumb\|300px\|Military vehicle"Schwimwagen" (Volkswagen Typ 166 Schwimmwagen) and Panther tanks of the "[[LSSAH]]"; Driving: Gustav Knittel, November 1943.]]
	[[File:Ritterkreuzverleihungszeremonie für Gustav Knittel (Mitte), Paul Guhl (rechts) und Hans Dauser durch Teddy Wisch.~~jpg~~\|thumb\|300px\|The Knight´s Cross award ceremony (''Ritterkreuzverleihungszeremonie'') in June 1944 in Flanders was led by SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS [[Teddy Wisch]], on the same day SS-Hauptsturmführer [[Paul Guhl]] (standing beside him) and SS-Untersturmführer d. R. Hans Dauser also received this high award.]]		[[File:Ritterkreuzverleihungszeremonie für Gustav Knittel (Mitte), Paul Guhl (rechts) und Hans Dauser durch Teddy Wisch.png\|thumb\|300px\|The Knight´s Cross award ceremony (''Ritterkreuzverleihungszeremonie'') in June 1944 in Flanders was led by SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS [[Teddy Wisch]], on the same day SS-Hauptsturmführer [[Paul Guhl]] (standing beside him) and SS-Untersturmführer d. R. Hans Dauser also received this high award.]]
	[[File:Männer der schnellen Gruppe Knittel als Unterstützung für die Kampfgruppe von Joachim Peiper.~~jpg~~\|thumb\|300px\|Schnelle Gruppe "Knittel" near Malmedy as support for [[Joachim Peiper]]]]		[[File:Männer der schnellen Gruppe Knittel als Unterstützung für die Kampfgruppe von Joachim Peiper.png\|thumb\|300px\|Schnelle Gruppe "Knittel" near Malmedy as support for [[Joachim Peiper]]]]
	Knittel joined the [[Allgemeine SS]] on 15 April 1933. He believed this to be a suitable preparation for a professional military career while he was still in school. As this was a formality for new SS members he became a member of the [[National socialist Party]] on 1 May 1933.<ref name="SS Personalakten - Record Group 242, Publication A3343, SSO, Roll 185 (NARA)"/> He was assigned to the 79. SS-Standarte in Ulm<ref name="SS RuSHA Akten - Record Group 242, Publication A3343, Series RS, Roll C5567 (NARA)">SS RuSHA Akten - Record Group 242, Publication A3343, Series RS, Roll C5567 (NARA)</ref> and with this unit he took part in the 1933 [[Nuremberg Rally]].		Knittel joined the [[Allgemeine SS]] on 15 April 1933. He believed this to be a suitable preparation for a professional military career while he was still in school. As this was a formality for new SS members he became a member of the [[National socialist Party]] on 1 May 1933.<ref name="SS Personalakten - Record Group 242, Publication A3343, SSO, Roll 185 (NARA)"/> He was assigned to the 79. SS-Standarte in Ulm<ref name="SS RuSHA Akten - Record Group 242, Publication A3343, Series RS, Roll C5567 (NARA)">SS RuSHA Akten - Record Group 242, Publication A3343, Series RS, Roll C5567 (NARA)</ref> and with this unit he took part in the 1933 [[Nuremberg Rally]].

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	==Promotions==		==Promotions==
	[[File:SS-Sturmbannführer Gustav Knittel, Ritterkreuzträger mit der Nahkampfspange in Gold II.~~jpg~~\|right\|300px]]		[[File:SS-Sturmbannführer Gustav Knittel, Ritterkreuzträger mit der Nahkampfspange in Gold II.png\|right\|300px]]
	* [[SS-Mann]]: 18. November 1933		* [[SS-Mann]]: 18. November 1933
	*[[SS-Rottenführer]]: 1 September 1936		*[[SS-Rottenführer]]: 1 September 1936

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	In May 1945 Knittel returned to his family in Neu-Ulm but soon decided to hide on a farm near [[Stuttgart]]. He returned to his hometown later that year but when he met with his wife on 5 January 1946 he was captured by [[Counter Intelligence Corps]] (CIC) agents [[Michel Thomas]] (born Moniek Kroskof – a [[Polish]] [[~~Jew~~]] who is said to have been a member of the so-called [[French Resistance]]<ref>https://307thcic.wordpress.com/2007/03/21/michel-thomas/</ref>), and Theodore Kraus. Knittel was imprisoned in the CIC prison in Ulm and [[Interrogation\|interrogated]] by Thomas.<ref name="Robbins, Christopher. Test of Courage: The Michel Thomas Story (2000). New York Free Press/Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-0263-3 // Republished as Courage Beyond Words (2007). New York McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-149911-3">Robbins, Christopher. Test of Courage: The Michel Thomas Story (2000). New York Free Press/Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-0263-3 // Republished as Courage Beyond Words (2007). New York McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-149911-3</ref> Knittel later claimed that he was [[Physical abuse\|physically abused]] by his guards<ref name=" Letter from Gustav Knittel to the head of the U.S. Army Secret Service, dated 5 January 1950 (NARA)">Letter from Gustav Knittel to the head of the U.S. Army Secret Service, dated 5 January 1950 (NARA)</ref> but Thomas denied this [[accusation]].<ref name="Robbins, Christopher. Test of Courage: The Michel Thomas Story (2000). New York Free Press/Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-0263-3 // Republished as Courage Beyond Words (2007). New York McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-149911-3">Robbins, Christopher. Test of Courage: The Michel Thomas Story (2000). New York Free Press/Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-0263-3 // Republished as Courage Beyond Words (2007). New York McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-149911-3</ref>		In May 1945 Knittel returned to his family in Neu-Ulm but soon decided to hide on a farm near [[Stuttgart]]. He returned to his hometown later that year but when he met with his wife on 5 January 1946 he was captured by [[Counter Intelligence Corps]] (CIC) agents [[Michel Thomas]] (born Moniek Kroskof – a [[Polish]] [[jew]] who is said to have been a member of the so-called [[French Resistance]]<ref>https://307thcic.wordpress.com/2007/03/21/michel-thomas/</ref>), and Theodore Kraus. Knittel was imprisoned in the CIC prison in Ulm and [[Interrogation\|interrogated]] by Thomas.<ref name="Robbins, Christopher. Test of Courage: The Michel Thomas Story (2000). New York Free Press/Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-0263-3 // Republished as Courage Beyond Words (2007). New York McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-149911-3">Robbins, Christopher. Test of Courage: The Michel Thomas Story (2000). New York Free Press/Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-0263-3 // Republished as Courage Beyond Words (2007). New York McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-149911-3</ref> Knittel later claimed that he was [[Physical abuse\|physically abused]] by his guards<ref name=" Letter from Gustav Knittel to the head of the U.S. Army Secret Service, dated 5 January 1950 (NARA)">Letter from Gustav Knittel to the head of the U.S. Army Secret Service, dated 5 January 1950 (NARA)</ref> but Thomas denied this [[accusation]].<ref name="Robbins, Christopher. Test of Courage: The Michel Thomas Story (2000). New York Free Press/Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-0263-3 // Republished as Courage Beyond Words (2007). New York McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-149911-3">Robbins, Christopher. Test of Courage: The Michel Thomas Story (2000). New York Free Press/Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-0263-3 // Republished as Courage Beyond Words (2007). New York McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-149911-3</ref>

	In March Knittel was transferred to [[Schwäbisch Hall]] where Peiper and the other suspects of the [[Malmedy Massacre]] were detained. Knittel and his Schnelle Gruppe had not taken part in the Malmedy Massacre since they had used a more southerly route<ref name="Pallud, Jean-Paul. Battle of the Bulge: Then and Now. After the Battle Magazine; 2nd edition (June 1986). ISBN 0-900913-40-1"/> but he was soon questioned about [[war crime]]s in the Stavelot area. Knittel [[Confession (law)\|confessed]] that he ordered the murder of American [[Prisoner of war\|prisoners of war]] near Petit-Spai.<ref name=" Aussagen Gustav Knittels im Malmedy-Prozeß, Microfilm P82-A (NARA)">Aussagen Gustav Knittels im Malmedy-Prozeß, Microfilm P82-A (NARA)</ref> Like other [[defendant]]s he complained after his trial that the interrogations included psychological [[torture]]. Knittel claimed to have been threatened with being handed over to the Belgians<ref name="Affidavit by Gustav Knittel, dated 15 March 1948 (NARA)">Affidavit by Gustav Knittel, dated 15 March 1948 (NARA)</ref> and that his interrogators suggested that signing a confession or not was the choice between fair American [[justice]] and Belgian [[revenge]].<ref name="Affidavit by Gustav Knittel, dated 1 May 1949 (NARA)">Affidavit by Gustav Knittel, dated 1 May 1949 (NARA)</ref> Knittel also hoped that a false confession would steer the attention of his interrogators away from the civilians the men under his command murdered in Stavelot, Parfondruy and Renardmont and that he could then show during his trial that the murders he confessed to never happened. He intended to use the war diaries of the American units which had opposed his ''Schnelle Gruppe'' during the Battle of the Bulge to prove that no Americans were murdered at the date and location he gave in his confession.<ref name="Letter from Gustav Knittel to Willis M. Everett jr., dated 16 February 1948 (NARA)		In March Knittel was transferred to [[Schwäbisch Hall]] where Peiper and the other suspects of the [[Malmedy Massacre]] were detained. Knittel and his Schnelle Gruppe had not taken part in the Malmedy Massacre since they had used a more southerly route<ref name="Pallud, Jean-Paul. Battle of the Bulge: Then and Now. After the Battle Magazine; 2nd edition (June 1986). ISBN 0-900913-40-1"/> but he was soon questioned about [[war crime]]s in the Stavelot area. Knittel [[Confession (law)\|confessed]] that he ordered the murder of American [[Prisoner of war\|prisoners of war]] near Petit-Spai.<ref name=" Aussagen Gustav Knittels im Malmedy-Prozeß, Microfilm P82-A (NARA)">Aussagen Gustav Knittels im Malmedy-Prozeß, Microfilm P82-A (NARA)</ref> Like other [[defendant]]s he complained after his trial that the interrogations included psychological [[torture]]. Knittel claimed to have been threatened with being handed over to the Belgians<ref name="Affidavit by Gustav Knittel, dated 15 March 1948 (NARA)">Affidavit by Gustav Knittel, dated 15 March 1948 (NARA)</ref> and that his interrogators suggested that signing a confession or not was the choice between fair American [[justice]] and Belgian [[revenge]].<ref name="Affidavit by Gustav Knittel, dated 1 May 1949 (NARA)">Affidavit by Gustav Knittel, dated 1 May 1949 (NARA)</ref> Knittel also hoped that a false confession would steer the attention of his interrogators away from the civilians the men under his command murdered in Stavelot, Parfondruy and Renardmont and that he could then show during his trial that the murders he confessed to never happened. He intended to use the war diaries of the American units which had opposed his ''Schnelle Gruppe'' during the Battle of the Bulge to prove that no Americans were murdered at the date and location he gave in his confession.<ref name="Letter from Gustav Knittel to Willis M. Everett jr., dated 16 February 1948 (NARA)

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	In May 1945 Knittel returned to his family in Neu-Ulm but soon decided to hide on a farm near [[Stuttgart]]. He returned to his hometown later that year but when he met with his wife on 5 January 1946 he was captured by [[Counter Intelligence Corps]] (CIC) agents [[Michel Thomas]] (born Moniek Kroskof – a [[Polish]] [[~~Jew~~]] who is said to have been a member of the so-called [[French Resistance]]<ref>https://307thcic.wordpress.com/2007/03/21/michel-thomas/</ref>), and Theodore Kraus. Knittel was imprisoned in the CIC prison in Ulm and [[Interrogation\|interrogated]] by Thomas.<ref name="Robbins, Christopher. Test of Courage: The Michel Thomas Story (2000). New York Free Press/Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-0263-3 // Republished as Courage Beyond Words (2007). New York McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-149911-3">Robbins, Christopher. Test of Courage: The Michel Thomas Story (2000). New York Free Press/Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-0263-3 // Republished as Courage Beyond Words (2007). New York McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-149911-3</ref> Knittel later claimed that he was [[Physical abuse\|physically abused]] by his guards<ref name=" Letter from Gustav Knittel to the head of the U.S. Army Secret Service, dated 5 January 1950 (NARA)">Letter from Gustav Knittel to the head of the U.S. Army Secret Service, dated 5 January 1950 (NARA)</ref> but Thomas denied this [[accusation]].<ref name="Robbins, Christopher. Test of Courage: The Michel Thomas Story (2000). New York Free Press/Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-0263-3 // Republished as Courage Beyond Words (2007). New York McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-149911-3">Robbins, Christopher. Test of Courage: The Michel Thomas Story (2000). New York Free Press/Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-0263-3 // Republished as Courage Beyond Words (2007). New York McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-149911-3</ref>		In May 1945 Knittel returned to his family in Neu-Ulm but soon decided to hide on a farm near [[Stuttgart]]. He returned to his hometown later that year but when he met with his wife on 5 January 1946 he was captured by [[Counter Intelligence Corps]] (CIC) agents [[Michel Thomas]] (born Moniek Kroskof – a [[Polish]] [[jew]] who is said to have been a member of the so-called [[French Resistance]]<ref>https://307thcic.wordpress.com/2007/03/21/michel-thomas/</ref>), and Theodore Kraus. Knittel was imprisoned in the CIC prison in Ulm and [[Interrogation\|interrogated]] by Thomas.<ref name="Robbins, Christopher. Test of Courage: The Michel Thomas Story (2000). New York Free Press/Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-0263-3 // Republished as Courage Beyond Words (2007). New York McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-149911-3">Robbins, Christopher. Test of Courage: The Michel Thomas Story (2000). New York Free Press/Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-0263-3 // Republished as Courage Beyond Words (2007). New York McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-149911-3</ref> Knittel later claimed that he was [[Physical abuse\|physically abused]] by his guards<ref name=" Letter from Gustav Knittel to the head of the U.S. Army Secret Service, dated 5 January 1950 (NARA)">Letter from Gustav Knittel to the head of the U.S. Army Secret Service, dated 5 January 1950 (NARA)</ref> but Thomas denied this [[accusation]].<ref name="Robbins, Christopher. Test of Courage: The Michel Thomas Story (2000). New York Free Press/Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-0263-3 // Republished as Courage Beyond Words (2007). New York McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-149911-3">Robbins, Christopher. Test of Courage: The Michel Thomas Story (2000). New York Free Press/Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-0263-3 // Republished as Courage Beyond Words (2007). New York McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-149911-3</ref>

	In March Knittel was transferred to [[Schwäbisch Hall]] where Peiper and the other suspects of the [[Malmedy Massacre]] were detained. Knittel and his Schnelle Gruppe had not taken part in the Malmedy Massacre since they had used a more southerly route<ref name="Pallud, Jean-Paul. Battle of the Bulge: Then and Now. After the Battle Magazine; 2nd edition (June 1986). ISBN 0-900913-40-1"/> but he was soon questioned about [[war crime]]s in the Stavelot area. Knittel [[Confession (law)\|confessed]] that he ordered the murder of American [[Prisoner of war\|prisoners of war]] near Petit-Spai.<ref name=" Aussagen Gustav Knittels im Malmedy-Prozeß, Microfilm P82-A (NARA)">Aussagen Gustav Knittels im Malmedy-Prozeß, Microfilm P82-A (NARA)</ref> Like other [[defendant]]s he complained after his trial that the interrogations included psychological [[torture]]. Knittel claimed to have been threatened with being handed over to the Belgians<ref name="Affidavit by Gustav Knittel, dated 15 March 1948 (NARA)">Affidavit by Gustav Knittel, dated 15 March 1948 (NARA)</ref> and that his interrogators suggested that signing a confession or not was the choice between fair American [[justice]] and Belgian [[revenge]].<ref name="Affidavit by Gustav Knittel, dated 1 May 1949 (NARA)">Affidavit by Gustav Knittel, dated 1 May 1949 (NARA)</ref> Knittel also hoped that a false confession would steer the attention of his interrogators away from the civilians the men under his command murdered in Stavelot, Parfondruy and Renardmont and that he could then show during his trial that the murders he confessed to never happened. He intended to use the war diaries of the American units which had opposed his ''Schnelle Gruppe'' during the Battle of the Bulge to prove that no Americans were murdered at the date and location he gave in his confession.<ref name="Letter from Gustav Knittel to Willis M. Everett jr., dated 16 February 1948 (NARA)		In March Knittel was transferred to [[Schwäbisch Hall]] where Peiper and the other suspects of the [[Malmedy Massacre]] were detained. Knittel and his Schnelle Gruppe had not taken part in the Malmedy Massacre since they had used a more southerly route<ref name="Pallud, Jean-Paul. Battle of the Bulge: Then and Now. After the Battle Magazine; 2nd edition (June 1986). ISBN 0-900913-40-1"/> but he was soon questioned about [[war crime]]s in the Stavelot area. Knittel [[Confession (law)\|confessed]] that he ordered the murder of American [[Prisoner of war\|prisoners of war]] near Petit-Spai.<ref name=" Aussagen Gustav Knittels im Malmedy-Prozeß, Microfilm P82-A (NARA)">Aussagen Gustav Knittels im Malmedy-Prozeß, Microfilm P82-A (NARA)</ref> Like other [[defendant]]s he complained after his trial that the interrogations included psychological [[torture]]. Knittel claimed to have been threatened with being handed over to the Belgians<ref name="Affidavit by Gustav Knittel, dated 15 March 1948 (NARA)">Affidavit by Gustav Knittel, dated 15 March 1948 (NARA)</ref> and that his interrogators suggested that signing a confession or not was the choice between fair American [[justice]] and Belgian [[revenge]].<ref name="Affidavit by Gustav Knittel, dated 1 May 1949 (NARA)">Affidavit by Gustav Knittel, dated 1 May 1949 (NARA)</ref> Knittel also hoped that a false confession would steer the attention of his interrogators away from the civilians the men under his command murdered in Stavelot, Parfondruy and Renardmont and that he could then show during his trial that the murders he confessed to never happened. He intended to use the war diaries of the American units which had opposed his ''Schnelle Gruppe'' during the Battle of the Bulge to prove that no Americans were murdered at the date and location he gave in his confession.<ref name="Letter from Gustav Knittel to Willis M. Everett jr., dated 16 February 1948 (NARA)