Phleps, Artur Martin

SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Artur Martin Phleps


* 29.11.1881 Biyertan(R-U, the current Romania)
+ 21.9.1944 near Arad(Romania)

He was born 29.11.1881 in sedmihradském Birthälmu(today's Romanian Biyertan). His father was a German doctor, the mother came from a peasant family. After graduating from a real school in nearby Sibiu(a. Hermannstadt) joined c. and to. cadet in Bratislava. After graduating from the cadet school becomes a lieutenant in the Tiroler Kaiserjäger (tyrolští císařstí hunters). In 1903 it was transferred to the field myslivcům (Feldjäger) to Köszegu. There him also in the year 1905 finds the profession to the military academy. In the academy belongs to the best students and after two years it ends with the recommendation:"Zum Generalstab sehr geeignet befunden" (Found to be very suitable for staff service) and at the same time, he is promoted to lieutenant commander. The first staff function receives at 13.infantry brigade in the Croatian Osijku. A year later it is translated into a staff of 6.infantry division in Granzu. Thanks to great results in the 1911 exceptionally promoted to captain and transferred to the staff of the XV.army corps in Sarajevo. Here during the nearly three-year services well acquainted with bosnian terrain, which will use thirty years later.

The beginning of the first world war finds captain Phelps in staff 32.infantry division in Budapest. With this division, and subsequently as a member of the operating department 2.army passes through the north of Serbia, the Carpathians, Haličí and Poland. In the following year serving with the army group "Rohr" and later as the representative of the accommodation provider 10.army in carinthia Villach. In 1916 is now the major Phelps in 72.infantry division and also participating in the fights in Transylvania. On the Romanian front remains almost two years, last as chief of the accommodation department 9.of the German army. More and more specialized in logistics. In the last year of the war is already proud of the rank of lieutenant colonel and becomes the landlord of the whole army group Tirol.

After the collapse of Austria-Hungary is considering whether to remain in the austrian army or offer your services Romania, under the auspices of his sedmihradský home. In Transylvania it occurs to fight with Hungarian bolsheviks led by Béla Kun, and Phelps becomes the commander of the saxon1) of the national guard in Cincu(Gross-Schenk). During the fighting on Tise it against orders on his own. However, has success and is acquitted before a military tribunal and on the contrary honored and promoted to colonel. Becomes the commander of 84.infantry regiment in Bistriţě. Here apparently impresses spurned the crown prince and followed by transfer to Bucharest on the general staff and at the same time the post of professor at the war college, where he teaches logistics. In 1926, he even publishes a book Logistik - Grundsätze der Organisation und Durchführung.

On the second attempt consists of general test and followed by various command positions in the Romanian nížínách and on the black sea coast before becoming commander of the 1.the mountain brigade. King Carol would make Phelps their mentor and confidant. Not long after he is promoted to general of mountain troops. After the rupture with the king falls from grace. In the rank of lieutenant-general terminates the active service.

In 1941, with the upcoming campaigns against the USSR asking for permission to serve in the Wehrmacht. Permission is not given him, and eventually willingly enters into the Waffen-SS. Himmler it immediately elevates to the rank of the major and is sent to the staff of the division Wiking. After the death of Hilmara Wäckerleho takes command of the regiment Westland. Honors mainly in the fighting near Kremenchug and Dnepropetrovsk. The end of the year 1941 comes a promotion to "Brigadeführera" and 13.1.1942 is Phelps charged with forming new units of the SS composed of yugoslav, Hungarian and Romanian Germans. So this was the 7.dobrovolnícká mountain division of the SS Prinz Eugen. The fighting first got involved in October 1942 with Phelps at the helm. This is for their achievements promoted to the rank of SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS. As appreciation for exemplary leadership of the division in June 1943 awarded the Knight's cross and promoted. Now already SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Phelps becomes the commander of the In.SS Gebirgs Korps. In this capacity, returning in 1944 to Romania, to lead the preparations to repel the upcoming soviet offensive, marshal Malinovsky. During the fighting with the Red army falls near Arad in captivity and probably in an attempted escape is killed. Posthumously he is awarded the oak leaves to the Knight's cross.

According to wikipedia, he was allegedly in 1928 awarded the Čs. the military cross.

1) the German minority in Transylvania is often referred to as the Saxons

source:
Kumm, Otto: "Vorwärts, Prinz Eugen!", Winkelried-Verlag 2007, ISBN 978-3-938392-13-3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artur_Phleps
.

Několik fotografií







Zdroj: www.ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.de, www.serbianna.com

Válečný kříž 1918 mu byl udělen opravdu a to za jeho velení rumunským jednotkám v době potlačení bolševického puče v Maďarsku . Měl i další vyznamenání Rumunska , Jugoslavie .