- published: 26 Sep 2013
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Hugo Gutmann (1880–1971) was a German-Jewish veteran of World War I who is famously known as Adolf Hitler's superior officer during the war, as well as the man responsible for recommending Hitler for the award of the Iron Cross.
Gutmann was born on November 19, 1880 in Nuremberg. In 1902, Gutmann joined the Bavarian Army and had risen to the rank of Feldwebel by 1904, at which time he was transferred to the reserves. When World War I began in 1914, Gutmann was recalled and soon after he joined the Regiment "List". On April 15, 1915, he was promoted to Lieutenant (Leutnant), and appointed as a Company Commander and Acting Adjutant for the Regiment's artillery battalion.
Throughout most of 1918, from January 29 to August 31, Gutmann served as Adolf Hitler's direct superior. Gutmann later lobbied for Hitler's award of the Iron Cross First Class (an award typically reserved for commissioned officers), and the decoration was presented on August 4, 1918, near Soissons, on recommendation from Gutmann. Some accounts further state that it was Gutmann who made the actual award and pinned the medal on Hitler's chest. Hitler would wear this medal throughout the remainder of his career, including while serving as Fuhrer of Nazi Germany.