Emil F. Reinhardt

Emil Fred Reinhardt
Born	(1888-10-27)October 27, 1888
Died	July 24, 1969(1969-07-24) (aged 80)
Place of birth	West Bay City, Michigan (now Bay City, Michigan)
Place of death	Fort Sam Houston, Texas
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1910 – 1946
Rank	Major General
Commands held	76th Infantry Division XIII Corps VIII Corps 69th Infantry Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Battle of the Bulge Western Allied invasion of Germany
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal Bronze Star (2)

Emil Fred Reinhardt (October 27, 1888 – July 24, 1969), U.S. Army officer, who reached the rank of major general during World War II. He is most noted as a commanding officer of the 69th Infantry Division, which became a first unit to contact Soviet Army.

Early years

Emil Fred Reinhardt was born in West Bay City (now Bay City), Michigan on 27 October 1888, the son of Christoph L. Reinhardt and Seyville L. (Tomhafe) Reinhardt. He graduated from Bay City Western High School in 1906 and subsequently he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He graduated in June 1910. He was also commissioned a second lieutenant in infantry on that date.

During World War I, Reinhardt did not see combat service in France, but after the war, he served with the Allied occupation forces in Germany. From 1934 to 1938, Reinhardt served as an instructor with Pennsylvania National Guard and in 1938, he was transferred to Washington, D.C., as the executive officer of the Washington Provisional Brigade.

World War II

He then served as commander of 20th Infantry Regiment. Reinhardt served in this capacity until April 1941, when he was promoted to brigadier general.

After his promotion, Reinhardt was appointed the assistant division commander of the 7th Infantry Division under command of Major general Charles H. White. His next assignment was at Camp Wolters, Texas, where he was appointed commanding general of the Infantry Replacement Training Center.

In 1942, Reinhardt attended the Divisional Commanders Course at Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and the was promoted to major general on April 17, 1942, and also appointed the commanding general of 76th Infantry Division. In September 1944 he was appointed commander of the 69th Infantry Division (United States) at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. The division was sent to Europe in December 1944 and entered combat in January 1945 when it relieved the 99th Division in Belgium. The division attacked rapidly eastward. It crossed the Rhine on March 27, 1945, and captured Leipzig in mid-April.

On April 25, 1945, elements of the division reached the Elbe and became the first American unit to contact the Russian Army. After the end of the war the division was placed on occupation duty in Germany. Major General Reinhardt returned to the United States in August 1945 and commanded the Infantry Replacement Training Center at Camp Robinson, Arkansas. He served in this capacity until September 30, 1946, when he retired from the military service.

For his service during World War II, Major General Reinhardt was awarded with Army Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Soviet Order of Suvorov, 2nd Class.

Reinhardt died on July 24, 1969, aged 80 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery together with his wife Laura Bishop Reinhardt (1887 - 1965).

Awards and honors

1st Row	Army Distinguished Service Medal							Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
2nd Row	World War I Victory Medal				Army of Occupation of Germany Medal				American Defense Service Medal				American Campaign Medal
3rd Row	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three service stars				World War II Victory Medal				Army of Occupation Medal				Soviet Order of Suvorov, 2nd Class

External links

• Generals.dk
• [1] Papers of Emil F. Reinhardt, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library
• [2] Photograph of Major General Emil F. Reinhardt giving blood, Georgia State Archives. Retrieved 02-06-09.