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Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Reichstag | |
| In office 1932–1944 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Erich Julius Eberhard von Zelewski 1 March 1899 Lauenburg, Province of Pomerania, German Empire |
| Died | 8 March 1972 (aged 73) Harlaching Hospital, Munich, Bavaria, West Germany |
| Political party | Nazi Party |
| Spouse |
Ruth Apfeld (m. 1922) |
| Children | 6 |
| Parent(s) | Otto Johannes von Zelewski Amalia Maria Eveline |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  German Empire (1914–1918)  Weimar Republic (1918–24)  Nazi Germany (1933–1945) |
| Branch/service |  Imperial German Army Schutzstaffel |
| Years of service | 1914–1945 |
| Rank | SS-Obergruppenführer |
| Commands | SS and Police Leader for Silesia Higher SS and Police Leader, Army Group Centre Rear Area Bandenbekämpfung Chief for occupied Europe |
| Battles/wars | World War I Silesian Uprisings World War II Nazi security warfare Warsaw Uprising |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Erich Julius Eberhard von dem Bach-Zelewski (born Erich Julius Eberhard von Zelewski; 1 March 1899 – 8 March 1972) was a high-ranking SS commander of Nazi Germany of Kashubian-Polish origin. During World War II, he was in charge of the Nazi security warfare against those designated by the regime as ideological enemies and any other persons deemed to present danger to the Nazi rule or Wehrmacht's rear security in the occupied territories of Eastern Europe. It mostly involved atrocities against the civilian population. In 1944, he led the brutal suppression of the Warsaw Uprising. Despite his responsibility for numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity, Bach-Zelewski did not stand trial in the Nuremberg trials, and instead appeared as a witness for the prosecution. He was later convicted for politically motivated murders committed before the war and died in prison in 1972.