World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseFriedrich-Wilhelm Müller began his military career as an infantryman with German 2nd Infantry Regiment in 1915. Later in the same year, he was made a second lieutenant with 266th Regiment. Remaining with the German Army after WW1, he rose through the ranks slowly but steadily, reaching the rank of major in 1936 and lieutenant colonel in 1940. As the commanding officer of 105th Infantry Regiment, he saw action with the Soviets, for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in 1941 and Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross in 1942. In Aug 1942, he was made the commanding officer of 22nd Air Landing Infantry Division based in Crete, Greece. He was responsible for many acts of atrocity against Greek civilians, including the massacres at Viannos, Anogia, Amari, and Damasta, as well as for the execution of prisoners of war against over 100 Italian officers on the island of Kos. In 1943, at the rank of Generalleutnant, he was made the commanding officer of 22nd Infantry Division. In Jul 1944, he was made the commanding officer of all occupation forces on Crete. In 1945, he returned to the Eastern Front at the helm of German 4th Army. He was captured by the Soviets at the end of the war in Ostpreußen (East Prussia), Germany. He was tried by a Greek court for war crimes in 1946. Found guilty, the "Butcher of Crete" was sentenced to death by firing squad, and the sentence was carried out in May 1947.

Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller Interactive Map

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Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller Timeline