German General. Knights Cross Holder. Commander of the 21st Panzer Division, Afrika Korps. Born in the garrsion town of Neumuehl (today Namyslin) bei Kuestrin, on the banks of the Oder River, he joined the military in 1910 after completing school. He served as a Lieutenant and Adjutant on the Western and Carpathian Fronts in World War I and was awarded the Iron Cross First and Second Class. He remained in the service between the wars. He took part in the Battle of Poland in 1939 and the breakthrough of the Maginot Line during the Battle of France in 1940 (for which he was awarded the Knights Cross). He was named battalion commander of the 20th Panzer Divsion on the Eastern Front in 1941 and then was transferred to Africa as commander of the 21st Panzer Divsion in January 1942, which command he held at his death. Promoted to Major General in April 1942, he was killed during the Battle of Alam el Halfa by an Royal Air Force air raid. He was posthumously promoted to Lieutenant General.
German General. Knights Cross Holder. Commander of the 21st Panzer Division, Afrika Korps. Born in the garrsion town of Neumuehl (today Namyslin) bei Kuestrin, on the banks of the Oder River, he joined the military in 1910 after completing school. He served as a Lieutenant and Adjutant on the Western and Carpathian Fronts in World War I and was awarded the Iron Cross First and Second Class. He remained in the service between the wars. He took part in the Battle of Poland in 1939 and the breakthrough of the Maginot Line during the Battle of France in 1940 (for which he was awarded the Knights Cross). He was named battalion commander of the 20th Panzer Divsion on the Eastern Front in 1941 and then was transferred to Africa as commander of the 21st Panzer Divsion in January 1942, which command he held at his death. Promoted to Major General in April 1942, he was killed during the Battle of Alam el Halfa by an Royal Air Force air raid. He was posthumously promoted to Lieutenant General.
Bio by: Kenneth Gilbert
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