GELLDORF Wolf Heinrich Graf von (Helldorf)

Gelldorf, Wolf Heinrich Graf von (Helldorf), (1896-1944), prefect of the Berlin police (Polizei-president), member of the conspiracy against Hitler. Born October 14, 1896 in Merseburg. Participated in the 1 st World War in 1916 was commander of machine-gun company. He was awarded the Iron Cross I and II degree. After the war Gelldorf joined Rossbaha group, one of the many organizations, Volunteer Corps, and participated in street battles with the Communists in the Rhineland. After participating in the Kapp putsch in 1920, fled to Italy. Returning to Germany in 1924, was elected to the Prussian Landtag. In 1926 Gelldorf joined the Nazi Party, and in 1931 became manager of the CA in Berlin. In 1933, after Hitler came to power, von Gelldorf appointed to high positions in the SA and the SS in Berlin-Brandenburg, was Gruppenfц?hrer SS (Lieutenant General) and Obergruppenfiihrer SS (full general). 11 November 1933 was elected to the Reichstag from the Nazi Party. From March 1933 to July 1935 was a policeman, the president of Potsdam, and in 1935 headed the Berlin police.

From the beginning of the count Gelldorf not agree with many of the methods of the Nazi regime. During the terrible Kristallnacht, Nov. 9, 1938 he was not in Berlin but in return, called a meeting of the officer corps of Police, he indignantly decried the passivity of the police during anti-Jewish pogroms. To the dismay of the crowd, he said that if it was present in the city, it would order all personnel to shoot rioters and looters.

. Graf Gelldorf participated in the July 1944 conspiracy against Hitler, following which he was arrested, tortured and eventually executed on August 15, 1944.