German Lieutenant General. Knights Cross Holder. Commander of the 8th and 15th Panzer Divisons. He was born in Groß-Silkow-Stolz, Pomerania (now Zelki, Poland). He fought for Germany in both World War I and World War II and was awarded the Iron Cross First and Second Class for bravery in both wars. In World War II, he participated in the Invasion of Poland, Battle of France, Invasion of Yugoslavia, and the North African Campaign, where he defended against the British Operations Battleaxe and Crusader. As Colonel and commander of the 8th Schützen-Brigade, under the 8th Panzer Division, he was awarded the Knights Cross for actions during the Battle of France on June 22, 1940 and was mentioned in the Wehrmachtreport on that date. He commanded the 8th Panzer Divison from February to May 1941 while the previous commander, Gen Erich Brandenberger, was recovering from wounds and was appointed the commander of the 15th Panzer Division as a Major General in May 1941, which position he held until his death in Derna Military Hospital, after being wounded by an Allied artillery attack three days earlier. His promotion to Lieutenant General was posthumous.

German Lieutenant General. Knights Cross Holder. Commander of the 8th and 15th Panzer Divisons. He was born in Groß-Silkow-Stolz, Pomerania (now Zelki, Poland). He fought for Germany in both World War I and World War II and was awarded the Iron Cross First and Second Class for bravery in both wars. In World War II, he participated in the Invasion of Poland, Battle of France, Invasion of Yugoslavia, and the North African Campaign, where he defended against the British Operations Battleaxe and Crusader. As Colonel and commander of the 8th Schützen-Brigade, under the 8th Panzer Division, he was awarded the Knights Cross for actions during the Battle of France on June 22, 1940 and was mentioned in the Wehrmachtreport on that date. He commanded the 8th Panzer Divison from February to May 1941 while the previous commander, Gen Erich Brandenberger, was recovering from wounds and was appointed the commander of the 15th Panzer Division as a Major General in May 1941, which position he held until his death in Derna Military Hospital, after being wounded by an Allied artillery attack three days earlier. His promotion to Lieutenant General was posthumous.

Bio by: Kenneth Gilbert