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    Posted

    Hi,

    That's all I can find

    LUTZE, Viktor

    (1890-1943)

    SA-Stabschef/M.d.R.:

    Born: 28. Dec. 1890 in Bevergern.

    Killed: 3. May 1943, in an automobile accident, Germany.

    NSDAP-Nr.: (Joined, 1922)

    Promotions:

    SA-Stabschef: Jul. 1934; SA-OGruf.: 1933;

    Assignments:

    SA-Stabschef: Jul. 1934-3. May 1943.

    Polizeipr?sident, Hannover: 1933-

    Notes:

    Decorations & Awards:

    1914 EK I/II; Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918; Ehrenkreuz f?r Frontk?mpfer; Goldenes Parteiabzeichen; Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Gold;

    Regards

    Christophe

    • 4 weeks later...
    Posted (edited)

    Some more:

    Lippe War Honor Cross for Heroic Deeds

    Lippe pinback Honor Cross with Swords (a post-WW1 'dynastic' award)

    Lippe War Merit Cross

    Schaumburg-Lippe Cross for Loyal Service

    Austrian WW1 Commemorative Medal

    Sudeten Medal

    Olympic Decoration (Medal or Decoration 2nd class)

    SA-Treffen Braunschweig 1931 badge

    Some of these can be seen on the photo of his ribbon bar below:

    Lutze___Viktor__1.jpg

    Edited by webr55
    Posted

    Thanks for this. I have had a bit of a disaster with my computer but have found out some further information e.g. wound badge in silver (for the loss of an eye in WWI). There are pictures of him wearing another imperial or Weimar pin back award that I'm trying to figure out (gold coloured cross worn below his other pin-on awards) but I can't scan pictures at the moment. I hope to get it sorted out soon.

    Posted

    Thanks for this. I have had a bit of a disaster with my computer but have found out some further information e.g. wound badge in silver (for the loss of an eye in WWI). There are pictures of him wearing another imperial or Weimar pin back award that I'm trying to figure out (gold coloured cross worn below his other pin-on awards) but I can't scan pictures at the moment. I hope to get it sorted out soon.

    That's the Lippe War Honor Cross for Heroic Deeds.

    Posted

    Yes - thanks, that's the one. I think this picture is from around 1933 if it's the same one I'm thinking of. There is also a colour version where the ribbons are a lot easier to make out. It's interesting to compare these awards with those on the later ribbon bar in the first picture you posted. Very helpful indeed.

    Posted

    Adrian Forman sold a number of Lutz's awards in 1994. They included Reichskultursenat badge in it's case; Rider's badge in Bronze; GPB; Red Cross Neck Cross with oakleaves and WWI Wound Badge in Silver. Apparently they were removed from the houshold of Frau Lutz by a British Army Unit in 1945.

    Stan

    Guest WAR LORD
    Posted (edited)

    Stan is quite correct. I have the Red Cross Neck Cross with oakleaves.It is shown in A colection of awards thread.Page 22

    Edited by WAR LORD
    Posted

    I'd heard about this. In fact a few odds and ends (collar tabs etc) were sold quite. There was a lot of stuff altogether as his family set up a small museum after Lutze's death, which was looted at the end of the war. Interesting to confirm that it was a Red Cross award rather than the later Volkspflege.

    Thanks again,

    James

    • 4 months later...
    Posted

    Hi James

    I noted with interest an old Regimentals catalogue from March 1994 listing a cased Reichskultursenates badge which it is claimed was presented to Lutze as part of the first issue of 125 badges in 1936. The entry goes on to suggest that this badge was numbered 15.

    This was of particular interest to me as I own the smaller RKS lapel badge which is also numbered 15 .Could this also have been presented to Lutze?

    Hope that this adds a little more to your search. Has anyone seen a photo of Lutze wearing either of these awards?

    Andy

    • 3 months later...
    Posted

    I've heard that Lutze's remains were exhumed at one point and what was left of his uniform, decorations and dagger made their way onto the collector's market. Anyone else hear about this?

    • 12 years later...
    Posted (edited)

    Just resurrecting this thread from long ago, as I'm reworking Lutze's biographical sketch for the eventual new and improved Leaders of the Storm Troops, Volume 1.  Here's the most up-to-date list I have of his awards.  Any corrections or additions would be appreciated.


    08.05.1943           Goldenes Kreuz des Deutschen Ordens (posthumous award)

    00.00.191_           1914 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse

    00.00.191_           1914 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse

    31.03.1941           Kriegsverdienstkreuz I. Klasse mit Schwertern

    00.00.1940 (?)     Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse mit Schwertern

    19.01.1919           Fürstlich Lippisches Kriegsehrenkreuz

    30.05.1919           Fürstlich Lippisches Offiziersehrenkreuz mit Schwertern

    00.00.1918           Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918 in Silber

    ca. 1939               Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938

    ca. 1938               Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938

    ca. 1934               Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges 1914-1918 mit Schwertern

    00.00.1933           Goldenes Ehrenzeichen der NSDAP

    17.05.1939           Goldenes Hitler-Jugend Ehrenzeichen mit Eichenlaub (presented by Reichsjugendführer Baldur von

                                    Schirach)

    30.01.1942           Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Gold

    30.01.1940           Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Silber

    30.01.1940 (?)     Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Bronze

    00.09.1933           Abzeichen “Reichsparteitag Nürnberg 1933”

    00.00.1929           Nurnberger Parteitagsabzeichen 1929

    00.00.1931           Abzeichen des SA-Treffens Braunschweig 1931

    00.00.1933           Schlageter Gedächtnisabzeichen (Nr. 7)

    00.00.193_           Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes I. Klasse

    20.10.1940           Kreuz von Danzig I. Klasse

    24.08.1936           Deutsches Olympia-Ehrenzeichen I. Klasse

    13.12.1939           Deutsche Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen

    ca. 1936               Ehrenplakette für die Mitglieder des Reichskultursenats

    00.00.193_           Deutsche Reiterabzeichen in Bronze

    31.03.1941           Dankschreiben des “Führers” (Letter of Appreciation from the Führer, Adolf Hitler)

    28.12.1937           SA-Ehrendolch für Führer der SA-Standarte “Feldherrnhalle”

    28.12.1940           Ehrendolch des Deutschen Heeres (Honor Dagger of the German Army; presented on the occasion of his 50th birthday by Generalfeldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch)

    00.00.1934           Ehrendolch der SA (mit Wirkung vom 03.02.1934)

    28.12.1938           Luftwaffen-Zivilabzeichen

    00.02.1934           Ehrenwinkel für alte Kämpfer

    ca. 1932               Tyr-Rune

    13.05.1939           Ehrenbürgerrecht der Stadt Schwelm (title revoked by decision of the city council, 25.08.1983)

    26.06.1937           Ehrenbürgerrecht der Stadt Göttingen (title revoked by decision of the Hauptausschuss der Stadt Göttingen,

                                  25.08.1952)

    08.10.1934           Ehrenbürgerbrief der Stadt Bevergern

    00.00.1937           Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, Grand Cross (Gran Croce dell’Ordine dei Santi Maurizio e Lazzaro)

    01.11.1937           Honor Dagger of the Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale (M.V.S.N., Volunteer Militia for National

                                  Security)

    00.00.193_           Österreichische Kriegserinnerungsmedaille

    16.07.1918           Commander’s Cross of the Royal Bulgarian Military Service Order with War Decoration

    30.09.1940           Grand Cross of the Royal Bulgarian Order of Civil Merit


     

    Lutze_53_12-14Aug1942_Inspection of SA-Gruppe Pommern.jpg

    Lutze_54.JPG

    Edited by Michael D Miller
    Posted

    I'm now able to add the following to his awards list:

     

    00.00.1937           Gold-plated Walther PP 7.65 mm pistol with ivory grips bearing his initials- “VL” and serial number 972851. Engraved Ehrengabe der Waffenfabrik Walther - Zella-Mehlis/Th. and S.A. - Pistolenschiessen 1937”. The weapon was manufactured by Carl Walther Waffenfabrik Zella-Mehlis/Thüringen.

    • 1 month later...
    Posted

    For some reason all of Michael's list of awards are in the same color as the background and are not visible unless I highlight them with the cursor. Is the trouble in my setting or what? The pistol give to Lutze was a thank-you gift from the Walther brothers for bringing the SA Shooting matches to Zella-Mehlis. Lutze did not participate in the matches.

    • 7 months later...
    Posted

    What kind of character did Victor had? Did the SA men idolize him?

     

                                                                              Edward L. Hsiao

    • 1 year later...
    Posted

    Very belated apologies for the font color issue.
    Hopefully it works better this time.
    Here is my most up-to-date listing of Lutze's awards.

    Best wishes,
    ~ Mike


     

    07.05.1943           Deutscher Orden des Groβdeutschen Reiches, I. Klasse, 1. Stufe mit Lorbeerkranz und Schwertern (4th recipient; posthumous award)

    00.00.191_           1914 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse

    00.00.191_           1914 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse

    31.03.1941           Kriegsverdienstkreuz I. Klasse mit Schwertern

    00.00.1940 (?)     Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse mit Schwertern

    19.01.1919           Fürstlich Lippisches Kriegsehrenkreuz für heldenmütige Tat

    30.05.1919           Fürstlich Lippisches Offiziersehrenkreuz mit Schwertern

    00.00.1918           Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918 in Silber

    00.00.1939           Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938

    00.00.1939           Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938

    ca. 1934               Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges 1914-1918 mit Schwertern

    00.00.1933           Goldenes Ehrenzeichen der NSDAP

    17.05.1939           Goldenes Hitler-Jugend Ehrenzeichen mit Eichenlaub

                                  Presented by Reichsjugendführer Baldur von Schirach.

    30.01.1942           Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Gold

    30.01.1940           Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Silber

    30.01.1940           Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Bronze

    00.09.1933           Abzeichen “Reichsparteitag Nürnberg 1933”

    00.00.1929           Nurnberger Parteitagsabzeichen 1929

    00.00.1931           Abzeichen des SA-Treffens Braunschweig 1931

    26.05.1933           Schlageter Gedächtnis-Abzeichen (Nr. 7)

    00.00.193_           Groβkreuz des Ehrenzeichens des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub (Halsorden)

    10.06.1939           Ehrenzeichen des Roten Kreuzes der Freien Stadt Danzig.

                            Presented by Danzig Senatspräsident Arthur Greiser during the “SA-Gruppenwettkämpfen in

                            Danzig”. (“Senatspräsident Greiser überreicht Stabschef Lutze das Ehrenzeichen vom Roten Kreuz

                            der Freien Stadt Danzig”, in Danziger Neueste Nachrichten, 12.06.1939)

    20.10.1940           Kreuz von Danzig I. Klasse

    24.08.1936           Deutsches Olympia-Ehrenzeichen I. Klasse

    13.12.1939           Deutsche Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen

    26.06.1938           Silbernes Treudienst-Ehrenzeichen

    00.00. 1936          Ehrenplakette für die Mitglieder des Reichskultursenats

    00.00.193_           Deutsche Reiterabzeichen in Bronze

    31.03.1941           Dankschreiben des “Führers”

    Letter of Appreciation from Adolf Hitler to honor his service as Oberpräsident of Hannover.

    28.12.1937           SA-Ehrendolch für Führer der SA-Standarte “Feldherrnhalle” with the following inscription on the blade:

     

    Ihrem Stabschef im alten SA-Geist

    zum 28.12.1937

    Das Führerkorps der Standarte Feldherrnhalle

     

    28.12.1940           Ehrendolch des Deutschen Heeres (Honor Dagger of the German Army.

                                  Presented on the occasion of his 50th birthday by Generalfeldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch.

                                  (“Stabschef Lutze 50 Jahre alt”, Hamburger Fremdenblatt, 27.12.1940; “Der Stabschef der SA”, in

                                  Frankfurter Zeitung, 28.12.1940; “Stabschef der SA Lutze 50 Jahre”, in Illustrierte Kronen-Zeitung

                              [Wien], 28.12.1940; “Ein Lebenswerk für des Volkes Wehrkraft – Zum 50. Geburtstag des Stabschefs

                              der SA”, in Ostdeutscher Beobachter [Posen], 28.12.1940)

    03.02.1934           Ehrendolch der SA

    00.00.1937           Gold-plated Walther PP 7.65 mm pistol with ivory grips bearing his initials- “VL” and serial number 972851. Engraved “Ehrengabe der Waffenfabrik Walther - Zella-Mehlis/Th.” and “S.A. - Pistolenschiessen 1937”. The weapon was manufactured by Carl Walther Waffenfabrik Zella-Mehlis/Thüringen.

    28.12.1938           Luftwaffen-Zivilabzeichen (“Hermann Göring ehrt seinen Kampfgefährten Lutze”, in Das Kleine Volksblatt [Wien], 10.01.1939; “Göring ehrt Lutze”, in Pommersche Zeitung, 11.01.1939)

    00.02.1934           Ehrenwinkel für alte Kämpfer

    18.12.1931           Tyr-Rune

    13.05.1939           Ehrenbürgerrecht der Stadt Schwelm (Revoked by the Rat der Stadt Schwelm, 25.08.1983)

    13.05.1939           Ehrenbürgerrecht der Stadt Schwelm (title revoked by decision of the city council, 25.08.1983)

    26.06.1937           Ehrenbürgerrecht der Stadt Göttingen (Title revoked by decision of the Hauptausschuss der Stadt Göttingen, 25.08.1952)

    23.06.1936           Ehreburgerbrief der Stadt Gelsenkirchen (Presented 28.06.1936 by Oberbürgermeister Karl Böhmer)

    07.10.1934           Ehrenbürgerbrief der Stadt Bevergern (“Chef des Stabes Viktor Lutze in seiner Heimat - Ueberreichung des Ehrenbürgerbriefes “, Münsterischer Anzeiger, 08.10.1934; “Die westfälische Heimat umjubelt den Chef des Stabes, Viktor Lutze”, in Völkischer Beobachter, 09.10.1934)

    00.00.193_           Ehrenbürgerrecht der Stadt Hattingen (Ruhr)

    00.00.193_           Ehrenbürgerrecht der Stadt Rinteln

    00.00.1937           Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, Grand Cross (Gran Croce dell’Ordine dei Santi Maurizio e Lazzaro)

    01.11.1937           Honor Dagger of the Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale (M.V.S.N., Volunteer Militia for National Security)

    01.07.1938           Photograph of Il Duce (Benito Mussolini) inscribed to “Al Camerato Viktor Lutze in Kameradschaft”) (“Abschied Lutzes von Mussolini”, in Völkischer Beobachter [Münchner Ausgabe], 04.07.1938)

    00.00.193_           Österreichische Kriegserinnerungsmedaille

    16.07.1918           Commander’s Cross of the Royal Bulgarian Military Service Order with War Decoration

    30.09.1940           Grand Cross of the Royal Bulgarian Order of Civil Merit

     

    Posted (edited)

    A bit more on him.  His massively expanded biographical sketch will appear in the upcoming second edition, from Fonthill Media, of Leaders of the Storm Troops, Volume 1.

     

    Viktor Heinrich Lutze

    Stabschef der SA (30.06.1934-02.05.1943)

     

     

    *             28.12.1890 in Bevergern/Kreis Tecklenburg/Westfalen.

    †             02.05.1943 (at 2230 hours) during an operation at the Städtischen Krankenhaus, Potsdam, as a result of injuries sustained in an auto accident near Michendorf. This occurred at 1430 hours on 01.05.1943 as Lutze, his wife, his 17-year-old daughter Inge, oldest son Viktor Jr., and chauffeur were returning on the Reichsautobahn from Bevergern to Berlin. Viktor Jr. was reportedly driving and fell asleep at the wheel, the car then careening over an embankment, at in excess of 60 mph. Jill Halcomb, referencing a 03.05.1943 press report issued by Dr. Sommer, describes the accident as follows:

     

    Suddenly, from the grass median several pedestrians stepped into the path of Lutze's speeding car. The driver slammed on the brakes, and apparently hit some of the pedestrians. The sudden braking caused the car to change direction and roll with great velocity down the highway for more than fifty meters. Lutze was thrown against the windshield of the car. At first Lutze was not thought to be seriously injured, but late in the day he grew increasingly worse; a blood clot had formed in his lungs. He was rushed into surgery, but Lutze died soon after. His daughter, who had been riding in the rear seat of the car, died earlier, from her severe injuries. (Halcomb, The SA: A Historical Perspective, pp. 81-82)

     

    In a notice to the press, SA-Brigadeführer Thomas Girgensohn (Amtschef in the Adjutantur des Stabschefs der SAwrote:

     

    On 1 May 1943, at about 14.30 hours., the Stabschef's car on the Reichsautobahn, in the curve forming the junction of the railroad from Hannover with that from Leipzig, hit the median, raised and cemented at this point, which separates the two carriageways. The vehicle was thrown out of the lane and crashed down the high embankment. The Stabschef, who as usual was in the front on the right side of the driver, was pressed against the windshield in such an unfortunate way that, in addition to serious injuries to the right shoulder, he suffered bruises, several broken ribs and a concussion. The injuries, the serious nature of which became apparent immediately during the first examination after his admission to the hospital [in Potsdam], did not immediately threaten the life of the Stabschef. In the course of Sunday, the Stabschef's condition worsened due to increasing obstruction of breathing and circulation... (SA-Personalakte Viktor Lutze)

     

    In his diary entry of 05.05.1943, Goebbels wrote:

     

    ... In fact, the car accident was due to improper speed and senseless driving by Lutze's son. Of course, one cannot say that in public; one would completely destroy the son with that...

                   

    Despite intensive treatment by the renowned surgeon Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Sauerbruch, Dr. Otto Nordmann (the Lutz

    Family’s personal physician), and Dr. Werner Forßmann, clinic director of the städtischen Krankenhaus in Potsdam (a recipient, in 1956, of the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work with cardiac catheterization), Lutze died at 2030 hours due to a collapsed lung. (“Stabschef Lutze schwer verletzt”, in Bremer Nachrichten, 03.05.1943; “Schwerter

    Kraftwagenunfall des Stabschefs Lutze”, in Völkischer Beobachter [Berlin], 03.05.1943) 

    NSDAP-Nr.:       84 (Joined 21.02.1922 with a different number; Party banned, 09.11.1923-16.02.1925; Unofficially reenrolled 25.02.1925; Officially reentered the Party, 22.03.1926, and later granted the very low membership number of 84 “in Anerkennung seiner Verdienste” [in recognition of his meritorious service])

     

    Promotions:

    11.04.1907                          Postgehilfe (Anwärter für die gehobene Postbeamtenlaufbahn)

    28.12.1912                          Postassistant

    01.10.1912                          Einjährig-Freiwilliger

    00.00.191_                          Unteroffizier

    [12.04.1916]                       Vizefeldwebel

    00.00.191_                          Leutnant d. R.                                     

    00.08.1919                          Charakter als Oberleutnant d. R.

    00.00.1919                          Postsekretär

    00.00.1923                          SA-Mann

    00.00.1925-00.00.1925     Stellvertretender Gauleiter der NSDAP

    00.07.1925-26.09.1925     Gauleiter der NSDAP                        

    27.09.1925                          Gau-SA-Führer

    00.06.1926-00.00.1927(?) Stellvertretender Gauleiter der NSDAP

    01.03.1928                          SA-Oberführer

    02.04.1931                          SA-Gruppenführer (Der Oberste SA-Führer, Führerbefehl Nr. 4, 14.10.1931)

                                                 Reinstated at that rank, 01.07.1932, when the government ban on the SA was lifted)

    01.01.1933                          SA-Obergruppenführer (Der Oberste SA-Führer, Führerbefehl Nr. 10 [Neujahrs-Befehl], 15.12.1932)

    Formally granted this rank by Adolf Hitler, 04.01.1933)

    15.02.1933-25.03.1933     Polizeipräsident

    25.03.1933-29.05.1933     Stellvertretender Obrerpräsident

    29.05.1933-28.03.1941      Oberpräsident

    30.06.1934-02.05.1943     Stabschef der SA

    20.07.1934-02.05.1943     Reichsleiter der NSDAP

    30.01.1938                          DRK-Generalhauptführer

    Edited by Michael D Miller
    Posted

    Michael,

     

    I can add the Stabschef's promotion to Leutnant d.R. The then Vizefeldwebel d.R. Viktor Lutze was commissioned into Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 15 per "All Highest Cabinet Order" of 19 January 1917.

     

    I am a little surprised that he received a brevet promotion to Oberleutnant after a couple of years of commissioned service. I cannot yet confirm that promotion.

     

    Regards

    Glenn

    Posted

    Hi Mike,

     

    Do you know if he received the Fürstlich Lippisches Kriegsverdienskreuz ? He should received it before the cross for heroic deed.

     

    Christophe

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