Hans Friedemann Götze

Hans Friedemann Goetze (3 November 1897 – 27 May 1940) was a Nazi Standartenführer (Colonel) of the German Waffen-SS and commander of SS Heimwehr Danzig (Danzig Home Defence). He was a son of SS-Brigadeführer Friedemann Goetze. He was shot and killed by a British sniper while leading Infanterie Regiment 3 of the 3rd SS Division Totenkopf near Le Paradis. Following the battle, the British soldiers who were taken prisoner were killed during the Le Paradis massacre.

About 1550 members of the SS Heimwehr Danzig took part in an attack on the Polish Post Office in Danzig. On 8 September 1939, members of the SS Heimwehr Danzig killed 33 Polish civilians in the village of Ksiazki.

From April 1939 to April 1940, some members of his military unit took part in a mass murder near the Forest of Szpęgawsk.

Summary of his military career

Dates of rank

SS-Hauptsturmführer - 15 May 1937 SS-Sturmbannführer - 12 September 1937 SS-Obersturmbannführer - 20 April 1939 SS-Standartenführer - 1 September 1939

Notable decorations Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 Wound Badge in Black Iron Cross Second Class Iron Cross First Class Baltic Cross Reichs Sport Badge in Gold Clasp to the Iron Cross Second Class Horsemans Badge in Bronze Danzig Cross, 1st and 2nd Class SA Sport Badge