Günther Niethammer

Günther Theodor Niethammer (28 September 1908 Waldheim – 14 January 1974, Kottenforst) was a German ornithologist who served during the Second World War with the Nazi Waffen-SS at various places including the Auschwitz concentration camp where he conducted studies on birds.

[1] Through Hans Kummerlöwe, also in Leipzig, he met Erwin Stresemann who gave him the task of compiling the Handbuch der Deutschen Vogelkunde.

In 1937, Niethammer joined the Nazi party (Number 5613683) and in early 1940 he volunteered with the Luftwaffe as he had a flying license.

[3] From the end of 1941 he was appointed as a zoologist with the Wehrmacht Department of Science at the recommendation of Fritz von Wettstein.

When the Allied Forces took over the region, he fled in civilian clothes on a bicycle belonging to Richard Heyder (1884-1984).

Niethammer was married to Ruth née Filtzer and one of their four sons, Jochen became a mammalogist of repute.