Theodor von Hippel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Theodor von Hippel
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|---|---|
| Born | 19 January 1890 Thorn, Province of West Prussia, German Empire present-day Toruń, Poland |
| Died | 1 January 1977 (aged 86) Kiel, West Germany |
| Allegiance |  German Empire Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Service/ |
Army (Wehrmacht) |
| Years of service | 1914–18 1935–43 |
| Rank | Oberstleutnant |
| Commands held | Lehr-Regiment Brandenburg z.b.V. 800 |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Iron Cross 1st Class |
Theodor-Gottlieb von Hippel (born January 19, 1890 – died January 1, 1977) was a German military officer. He is best known for creating and training a special commando unit. This unit was called the Brandenburgers. They were trained to work secretly behind enemy lines.
Contents
Early Military Career and a Big Idea
Theodor von Hippel joined the army in 1914. This was shortly after World War I began. He volunteered to serve in German East Africa. There, he fought under General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck. His unit used special tactics, like guerrilla warfare. This means they fought in small groups, using surprise attacks.
After the war, in 1922, Hippel studied economics. He earned a special degree from the University of Tübingen. He rejoined the German army in 1935. By 1937, he moved to the Abwehr. This was Germany's military intelligence service. It was like a spy agency.
Hippel had a big idea. He was inspired by his time in Africa. He thought small, highly trained units could be very useful. These units would speak foreign languages. They would sneak behind enemy lines. Their job would be to cause trouble. They would disrupt enemy communications and supplies.
At first, the regular army rejected his idea. But then he spoke to Admiral Wilhelm Canaris. Canaris was the head of the Abwehr. He liked Hippel's plan. So, Hippel was put in charge of this secret project. To keep it hidden, the unit was called the "Special Duty Training and Construction Company."
The Brandenburgers in Action
First Missions in Poland
The Brandenburgers' first mission was during the invasion of Poland in 1939. Before the main attack, small teams went into Poland. They secretly entered important factories, mines, and power stations. Their goal was to prepare for the invasion.
On August 31, a team of Brandenburgers went into Danzig. Early the next morning, they tried to take over the city's post office. At the same time, other teams began to blow up their targets. These were the places they had been working in secretly. Other Brandenburgers also crossed the border. They sneaked behind Polish defenses. They captured important bridges over the Vistula River.
Operations in France and North Africa
The unit did well in Poland. So, it was brought back together. It became a larger group called a regiment. This new regiment helped in the 1940 invasion of France and other nearby countries.
Over time, Admiral Canaris took more control of the Brandenburgers. Hippel's role became smaller. In 1943, Hippel was sent to North Africa. He led a German-Arab unit there. But in May 1943, he surrendered to the Allied troops. This happened when the Axis forces in Tunisia were defeated.
Life After the Wars
After World War II, Theodor von Hippel returned to Germany. He lived in a town called Emmingen ab Egg. He passed away on January 1, 1977, in Kiel. He was 86 years old.
