| Otto von Knobelsdorff | |
|---|---|
|
File:Knobelsdorff.jpg Otto von Knobelsdorff | |
| Born | 31 March 1886 |
| Died | 21 October 1966 (aged 80) |
| Place of birth | Berlin |
| Place of death | Hannover |
| Allegiance |
 German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Heer |
| Years of service | 1905-1945 |
| Rank | General der Panzertruppe |
| Commands held |
19. Panzer Division X. Armeekorps |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords |
Heinrich Otto Ernst von Knobelsdorff (31 March 1886 – 21 October 1966) was a German general who commanded armored Panzer units and served during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Awards[]
- Knight of Honour (Ehrenritter) of the Order of Saint John (Bailiwick of Brandenburg)
- Austria-Hungary: Military Merit Cross, 3rd Class with War Decoration and Swords
- Saxon Duchies: Ducal Saxe-Ernestine House Order, Knight 2nd Class with Swords
- Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach: Order of the White Falcon, Knight 2nd Class with Swords
- Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach: Wilhelm Ernst War Cross
- Lippe-Detmold: War Merit Cross
- Iron Cross (1914)
- Wound Badge (1918) in Black
- Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
- Panzer Badge in Silver
- Wound Badge in Black
- German Cross in Gold on 16 February 1943 as General der Panzertruppe in the XXXXVIII. Panzerkorps[2]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
- Knight's Cross on 17 September 1941 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 19. Panzer-Division[3]
- 322nd Oak Leaves on 12 November 1943 as General der Panzertruppe and commanding general of the XXXXVIII. Panzerkorps[3]
- 100th Swords on 21 September 1944 as General der Panzertruppe and commanding general of the XXXX. Panzerkorps[3]
- Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht on 20 February 1943 and 8 June 1944
References in the Wehrmachtbericht[]
| Date | Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording | Direct English translation |
|---|---|---|
| 8 June 1944 | Bei den Kämpfen im Raum von Jassy haben deutsch-rumänische Truppen unter dem Befehl des rumänischen Generals der Kavallerie Racovita, des Generals der Panzertruppen von Knobelsdorff sowie des Generals der Infanterie Mieth, hervorragend unterstützt durch starke deutsch-rumänische Kampf- und Schlachtfliegerverbände, in harten Kämpfen die Bolschewisten aus tief gegliederten, zäh verteidigten Stellungen geworfen und die eigenen Stellungen dadurch bedeutend verbessert.[4] | In the battles in the area of Jassy, German and Romanian troops under the command of the Romanian Cavalry General Racoviţă, General of Panzer troops von Knobelsdorff and the General of the Infantry Mieth, superbly supported by strong German-Romanian bomber and ground-attack aircraft units, have thrown in fierce combat out of their deeply structured, tough defending, positions, the Bolsheviks, and improved our positions significantly. |
References[]
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Berger, Florian (2000). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges (in German). Wien, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 3-9501307-0-5.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) (in German). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtsteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches]. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941–1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall (in German). ISBN 3-931533-45-X.
- Schaulen, Fritjof (2004). Eichenlaubträger 1940 - 1945 Zeitgeschichte in Farbe II Ihlefeld - Primozic (in German). Selent, Germany: Pour le Mérite. ISBN 3-932381-21-1.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 3-7648-2299-6.
- Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 (in German). München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.
External links[]
- Otto von Knobelsdorff @ Lexikon der Wehrmacht
- Otto von Knobelsdorff @ Ritterkreuzträger 1939-45
- Otto von Knobelsdorff @ Generals.dk
The original article can be found at Otto von Knobelsdorff and the edit history here.