The Surrender of SS General Jürgen Wagner

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Date: Sunday, 6 May 1945
Place: Tangermünde, Germany
Photographer: William Vandivert of LIFE Magazine

SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS Jürgen Wagner, who was Commander of 23. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Nederland" (niederlandische Nr. 1), surrenders to personnel of the US Army 405th Infantry-Regiment / 102nd Infantry Division at the River Elbe near Tangermünde Germany, 6 May 1945. The object hanging from Wagner's coat is a Flashlight, while the US Lieutenant-Colonel is Leroy E. Frazier from the Ozarks. Wagner was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes in July 1943 and Eichenlaub in December 1944. After his surrender he was later extradited to Yugoslavia for war crimes and executed in 1947. At the time of Wagner's surrender, his wife Martha and ten year old daughter Irene were living in Quedlinburg/Harz, then controlled by American troops. SS General Wagner mistakenly believed his captivity would be relatively short-lived and that he would soon be reunited with his family; a US Ninth Army Interrogation Center report dated 13th June 1945 stated, "PW is of the opinion that German generals and General Staff officers, including SS generals, will soon be released by the Allies, in the same manner as other PWs." Whilst Wagner was negotiating the surrender of his shattered command on the western side of the bridge at Tangermünde, his family were a mere two hours travel away. It is currently unknown if he ever saw his family again. In the photos we see one of Wagner's two trips to negotiate the surrender of the remainder of his command. A couple of days previously, On 25-26 april 1945, Nederland Division were engaged in defensive fights in the area Prieros-Selchow. Then they went with the remnants of 9. Armee in the "Kessel" of Halbe. Heavy lost : reduced to 300 into a Kampfgruppe "Wagner". On 29 april a small group with Divisionskommandeur could escape Halbe area and join 12. Armee at Beelitz. On 5 May they reached Tangenmünde were they surrended to US troops on 6-7 May 1945.

Source :
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https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=216061
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