Kurt Gildisch

Kurt Gildisch was the third commander of Adolf Hitler's personal bodyguard, which he took command of on 11 April 1933. He was a trained teacher, who had failed to find a classroom job and thereafter joined the Prussian police force. Like his successor Bruno Gesche, he was sacked for his Nazi affiliations, and joined the Sturmabteilung (SA) in 1931. Later that year he transferred to the SS. During World War II, Gildisch was wounded and fell into Soviet captivity during the Battle of Berlin. He was released in August 1946. In May 1953, he was convicted in the murder of Dr. Erich Klausener, head of Katholische Aktion group, during the "Night of the Long Knives" in 1934. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison and died in 1956.