Hellmuth Pfeifer

Hans-Hellmuth Pfeifer (18 February 1894 – 22 April 1945) was a German general during World War II. A veteran of World War I, he held higher command positions in WWII, among other, that of the 65th Infantry Division in Italy, selecting its hand grenade symbol which earned the nickname "The Hand Grenade Division."

Pfeifer was killed in action in Finale Emilia, in the Bologna sector, on 22 April 1945; mere days before the final Axis surrender in Italy. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and a staunch Nazi.

Early military career Hans-Hellmuth Pfeifer joined the 3rd Kurhessisches Infantry Regiment "von Wittich" No. 83 (3. Kurhessisches Infanterie-Regiment "von Wittich" Nr. 83), Kassel, on March 16, 1912 as an officer cadet (Fahnenjunker). On August 18, 1913, he was promoted to lieutenant (Leutnant) in the 4th Hanoverian Infantry Regiment No. 164 (4. Hannoversches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 164), patented 19 August 1911; serving with it as a company officer in the First World War. In this position, among other things, he spread anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. On 1 July 1934, he rejoined the Reichswehr as a captain (Hauptmann). His seniority was set on 1 October 1933. There he belonged to the domestic department (I) of the Wehrmacht General Affairs Office (Amtsgruppe Allgemeine Wehrmachtangelegenheiten, AWA); remaining in that capacity by the beginning of World War II, in the summer of 1939. At this time, Pfeifer published several articles that took up the subject of the political soldier.

World War II

Invasion of France Pfeifer took command of the 3rd battalion of 185th Infantry Regiment in the 87th Infantry Division on 27 September 1939. As such, Pfeifer was promoted to lieutenant colonel (Oberstleutnant) on 1 December 1939. In the spring of 1940 he led his battalion within the newly established division in the Battle of France. The 87th Infantry Division occupied Paris in June 1940. He was then appointed commander of the 185 Infantry Regiment on 5 July 1940.

Invasion of the Soviet Union From the beginning of the summer of 1941, he led his regiment in the Operation Barbarossa in the attack on Central Russia. On 1 October 1941, he was promoted to colonel (Oberst); his seniority was set on 1 June 1941. He distinguished himself during the German advance, for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 November 1941. Pfeifer remained in command when his regiment was renamed Grenadier-Regiment 185 in October 1942 and moved to the reserve list on 20 November.

During his time in Italy, the 65th division was suspected of committing numerous atrocities against Italian civilians. The 65th Division has been identified as possibly being responsible for 25 separate acts of violence in which Italian civilians were killed. Many of the reports lack evidence of specific perpetrators, only noting that the killings occurred in the 65th Division's area of operations. The first such incident occurred in relation to the Frosini and Moniciano bridge destruction when an Italian civilian was tried by German military tribunal for espionage, found guilty, and a sentence of death was carried out. Many of the alleged murders involved confirmed members of the Italian resistance movement that sprang up in northern Italy to oppose the fascist puppet state.

One of the interactions in the divisional area was the , Emilia-Romagna, which also included the 42nd Jäger Division, between 28 and 30 September 1944, when 66 civilians were executed. The Atlas of Nazi war crimes in Italy mentions that it is possible this massacre was actually perpetrated by SS troops.

In total, five separate incidents in which Italian civilians were killed in the 65th Division's area of operations occurred in June 1944 (18 victims), three in July 1944 (22 victims), nine in August 1944 (42 victims), eight in September 1944 (125 victims), and one in October 1944 (2 victims). A number of these interactions were reprisals precipitated by the killing of German soldiers by partisans, including in one case the execution of a German prisoner.

The Divisional newsletter was named Die Handgranate ("The Hand Grenade"), and for Christmas 1944 large quantities of a special holiday edition were printed with the idea that they should be sent back to families at home. The edition contained ruminations on the war and a short report "From the War History of our Infantry Division."

In the heavy defensive battles in June 1944 in the Alban Hills, southeast of Rome, he distinguished himself in particular. On 1 June 1944, he was promoted to lieutenant general (Generalleutnant). and pulled out of the line in January 1944. On 2 June 1944, he was mentioned by name in the daily Wehrmacht report: quote|In this section of the front, the 65th Infantry Division under Lieutenant General Pfeiffer, the 3rd Panzergrenadier Division under Major General Hecker, reinforced by parts of the 4th Parachute Division, and a combat group composed of units of the Army and Parachute Troops under Lieutenant General Greiner, superbly supported by artillery and anti-aircraft artillery of the Luftwaffe, especially excellent. Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (8 June 1940) & 1st Class (16 June 1940) Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight's Cross on 26 November 1941 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 185 Oak Leaves on 5 September 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of 65.Infanterie-Division