Franz Ritter von Epp ( October 16 1868 in Munich â `` December 31 1946 in Munich ) was a German politican and an officer in the German Empire . Franz Ritter von Epp ( 16 October 1868 in Munich -- 31 December 1946 in Munich ) was a regular officer in the Imperial German Army of the early part of the 20th century , who rose to the office of Reichsstatthalter of Bavaria , a position of dictatorial power , under the Nazis .