Fritz Darges
Fritz Darges (8 February 1913 – 25 October 2009) was an "Obersturmbannführer" (lieutenant colonel) in the Waffen-SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He served as an adjutant to Martin Bormann and later was a personal adjutant to Adolf Hitler. Early life. He was born in Dülseberg near Salzwedel. After attending school, Darges volunteered to join the SS in April 1933. By 1934 he had been selected to become an officer and attended the "SS-Junkerschule" at Bad Tölz. After graduation in April 1935 he was promoted to "Untersturmführer  (second lieutenant). In 1936 he was named Adjutant to Reichsleiter" Martin Bormann. In May 1937 he joined the NSDAP (Nazi Party), and in September of that same year he was promoted to "Obersturmführer" (first lieutenant). World War II. In October 1939 he returned to the Waffen-SS as a company commander in the "Deutschland" and "Der Führer" Regiments in the SS-VT. He fought in the Battle of France and was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class in July 1940 and promoted to "Hauptsturmführer" (captain). Darges was then posted to the newly formed SS Division "Wiking", took part in Operation  Barbarossa and was awarded the Iron Cross 1st class in August 1942. In March 1943 he became a personal adjutant to Adolf Hitler. He was assigned to the "Führerbegleitkommando", an SS bodyguard unit which provided personal security for Hitler. He was promoted to "Obersturmbannführer" (lieutenant colonel) in January 1944. Dismissal. On 18 July 1944, during a strategy conference in the Wolfsschanze, a fly began buzzing around the room, allegedly landing on Hitler's shoulder and on the surface of a map several times. Irritated, Hitler ordered Darges to dispatch the nuisance. Darges suggested that, as it was an airborne pest , the job should go to the Luftwaffe adjutant, Nicolaus von Below. Hitler took Darges aside, dismissed him on the spot and had him transferred to the Eastern Front. Another version of this story claims Darges was merely snickering as Hitler looked up from the map. Yet another version of Darges' dismissal and transfer by Hitler involves his refusal to marry Eva Braun's sister Gretl Braun, who was pregnant at the time. Service in the Eastern Front. In August 1944 Darges returned to the SS "Wiking" to replace Johannes Mühlenkamp as the commander of the 5th SS Panzer Regiment. It  was in command of this unit that Darges was awarded the Knight's Cross for his actions on the night of 4 January 1945. The division was advancing towards Bicske when it was stopped by the 41st Guards Rifle Division of the Soviet 4th Guards Army. Darges initially probed the Soviet line with a mixed Panzer and Panzer Grenadier "Kampfgruppe" and succeeded in breaking through the line at dawn. Subsequently he ambushed and destroyed a Soviet task force, knocking out four 122mm guns, four 76mm anti-tank guns, twelve trucks and a number of supply vehicles. He then  attacked Regis Castle, forcing the garrison to retreat. Darges then found himself surrounded by Soviet reinforcements and was forced to repel several attacks. Three days later when they were relieved by another "Kampfgruppe" from SS "Wiking", they left behind more than thirty destroyed Soviet tanks. Post-war. Not much is known about his activities after Germany's surrender. He had a career as a car salesman after the war. He appeared in the 2000 documentary "Hitlers Krieg im Osten", credited as himself. Shortly before his death, Darges stated that he found Hitler to be a "genius" and that "I  served him and would do it all again now." Darges authored a manuscript recounting his experiences as a member of Hitler's inner circle, with instructions that it be published after his death.