Nazi German General. He was the holder of the Knights cross with Oak Leaves and commander of the 6th Panzer Division. He joined a Saxon regiment as an officer candidate in the summer of 1915. During World War I, he fought with his regiment on the Western front and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1916 and awarded the Iron Cross First and Second Class. He remained in the army after the war and served in a number of posts, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1938 in the 1st Panzer Division. When war broke out in 1939, he served with the 253rd Infantry division and then the II Army Corps. In September 1940, he became Chief of Staff of the XV Army Corps which was shortly renamed the 3rd Panzer Group. With this group he saw action on the Eastern Front, and was promoted to Colonel in July 1941. In January, the 3rd Panzer Group was renamed 3rd Panzer Army and he was awarded the German Cross in Gold for his services. In July of 1942 he was named as commander of the 11th Panzer Regiment and took part in the relief efforts at Stalingrad, for which he was awarded the Knights Cross. He was given the command of the 6th Panzer Division, of which the 11th Panzer Regiment was a part, in February 1943 and was promoted to Major General in May. Shortly after the Battle of Kursk, his command unit was accidentally attacked by his own air force. He was slightly wounded but stayed in the field, whereupon he was hit by a sniper bullet that gravely injured him. While in the hospital, he was awarded the 259th Oak Leaves to his Knights Cross, but succumbed to his wound a few days later and died in Military Hospital 1/610 at Charkow. He was promoted posthumously to Lieutenant General. As his wife was serving as a Red Cross nurse nearby, she was able to attend the funeral.
Nazi German General. He was the holder of the Knights cross with Oak Leaves and commander of the 6th Panzer Division. He joined a Saxon regiment as an officer candidate in the summer of 1915. During World War I, he fought with his regiment on the Western front and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1916 and awarded the Iron Cross First and Second Class. He remained in the army after the war and served in a number of posts, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1938 in the 1st Panzer Division. When war broke out in 1939, he served with the 253rd Infantry division and then the II Army Corps. In September 1940, he became Chief of Staff of the XV Army Corps which was shortly renamed the 3rd Panzer Group. With this group he saw action on the Eastern Front, and was promoted to Colonel in July 1941. In January, the 3rd Panzer Group was renamed 3rd Panzer Army and he was awarded the German Cross in Gold for his services. In July of 1942 he was named as commander of the 11th Panzer Regiment and took part in the relief efforts at Stalingrad, for which he was awarded the Knights Cross. He was given the command of the 6th Panzer Division, of which the 11th Panzer Regiment was a part, in February 1943 and was promoted to Major General in May. Shortly after the Battle of Kursk, his command unit was accidentally attacked by his own air force. He was slightly wounded but stayed in the field, whereupon he was hit by a sniper bullet that gravely injured him. While in the hospital, he was awarded the 259th Oak Leaves to his Knights Cross, but succumbed to his wound a few days later and died in Military Hospital 1/610 at Charkow. He was promoted posthumously to Lieutenant General. As his wife was serving as a Red Cross nurse nearby, she was able to attend the funeral.
Bio by: Kenneth Gilbert
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