16 Facts About Wilhelm Burgdorf

Wilhelm Emanuel Burgdorf was a German general who rose to prominence during the final years of World War II.

In October 1944, Wilhelm Burgdorf assumed the role of the chief of the Army Personnel Office and chief adjutant to Adolf Hitler.

Wilhelm Burgdorf committed suicide inside the Fuhrerbunker on 2 May 1945 at the conclusion of the Battle of Berlin.

Wilhelm Burgdorf was born on 15 February 1895 in Furstenwalde, Province of Brandenburg, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire.

Wilhelm Burgdorf joined the Prussian Army at the outbreak of World War I as an officer cadet and was commissioned as an infantry officer in Grenadier Regiment 12 in 1915.

Wilhelm Burgdorf was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1938 and served as the commander of the 529th Infantry Regiment from May 1940 to April 1942.

Wilhelm Burgdorf became the Deputy Chief in October 1942, when he was promoted to Generalmajor.

Wilhelm Burgdorf was promoted to chief of the Army Personnel Office and chief adjutant to Adolf Hitler in October 1944.

Wilhelm Burgdorf was one of the many members of Roland Freisler's so-called Court of Honor brought together to pass judgment, along with generals von Rundstedt, Keitel, Guderian, Schroth, Kriebel, Maisel, Kircheim, and Specht.

Wilhelm Burgdorf played a key role in the death of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, who had been implicated as having a peripheral role in the plan to assassinate Hitler.

Burgdorf informed Rommel of the charges and, following the instructions of Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, offered him three choices: report to Hitler and plead not guilty; admit guilt, take poison, receive a state funeral and obtain immunity for his family and staff; or face a trial for treason.

Wilhelm Burgdorf joined Hitler in the Fuhrerbunker when the Soviets assaulted Berlin.

Wilhelm Burgdorf took part in Hitler's court-martial of Hermann Fegelein, Himmler's SS liaison officer and Eva Braun's brother-in-law.

SS-General Wilhelm Burgdorf Mohnke presided over the tribunal, which included SS-General Johann Rattenhuber and General Hans Krebs.

Wilhelm Burgdorf shouted that Hitler had forbidden surrender and as a civilian he had no authority to do so.

Wilhelm Burgdorf then pulled his PPK to shoot Fritzsche, but a radio technician "knocked the gun" and the bullet misfired, hitting the ceiling.