Helmuth Weidling

Helmuth Otto Ludwig Weidling was a general in the German Army before and during the Second World War. Weidling was the last commander of the Berlin Defence Area during the Battle of Berlin, and led the defence of the city against Soviet forces, finally surrendering just before the end of the Second World War in Europe.

Weidling was born onNovember 1891 in Halberstadt, Province of Saxony. He entered the military in 1911 initially serving in a field artillery regiment in Breslau. His next assignment was to a balloon battalion in the Tegel district of Berlin and while in Berlin he was promoted to second lieutenant onAugust 1912. As a lieutenant in the First World War, he served as an army airship commander, commanding the airships LZ 97 and LZ 113 . He ended the war as an officer commanding an artillery battery.

Source: Wikipedia