Erpo Freiherr von Bodenhausen
Erpo Kraft Bodo Ernst Gustav Wilke Freiherr von Bodenhausen | |
---|---|
Born | 12 April 1897 Schloß Arnstein |
Died | 9 May 1945 Grobin, Generalbezirk Lettland, Reichskommissariat Ostland now Grobiņa, Grobiņa Municipality, Latvia | (aged 48)
Allegiance | German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
Service/ | Heer |
Years of service | 1914–45 |
Rank | Generalleutnant |
Commands held | 12. Panzer Division L. Armeekorps |
Battles/wars | World War I
|
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Erpo Kraft Bodo Ernst Gustav Wilke Freiherr von Bodenhausen[Note 1] (12 April 1897 – 9 May 1945) was a German general who commanded the 12th Panzer Division during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Generalleutnant von Bodenhausen committed suicide on 9 May 1945 in the Courland Pocket rather than surrender to Soviet forces.
Awards and decorations
- Iron Cross (1914)
- Wound Badge (1914)
- in Black (27 September 1918)[1]
- Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (1934)
- Wehrmacht Long Service Award (2 October 1936)[1]
- Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
- Panzer Badge in Bronze (1 November 1940)[1]
- Eastern Front Medal (3 October 1942)[1]
- German Cross in Gold on 31 January 1942 as Oberstleutnant in Schützen-Regiment 28[2]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 17 December 1943 as Generalmajor and commander of 12. Panzer-Division[3][4][Note 2]
- Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht (18 February 1944 and 28 December 1944)
Wehrmachtbericht references
Date | Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording | Direct English translation |
---|---|---|
18 February 1944 | [... In diesem Raum hat sich die pommersche 12. Panzerdivision unter Führung des Generalleutnants Freiherr von Bodenhausen besonders bewährt.] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)[5] | ... In this area has the Pomeranian 12th Armored Division under the leadership of Lieutenant General Freiherr von Bodenhausen proven itself exceptionally. |
28 December 1944 (Addendum) | [In den harten Kämpfen der dritten Kurlandschlacht haben sich die norddeutsche 225. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Generalleutnant Risse und die pommersche 12. Panzerdivision unter Führung von Generalleutnant Freiherr von Bodenhausen durch hervorragende Standhaftigkeit ausgezeichnet.] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)[6] | In tough combat of the third Courland battle, the North German 225th Infantry Division under the command of Lieutenant General Risse and the Pomeranian 12th Armored Division, led by Lieutenant General Freiherr von Bodenhausen, have shown outstanding steadfastness. |
Notes
References
Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Wegmann 2004, p. 135.
- ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 47.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 228.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 136.
- ^ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Volume 3, p. 38.
- ^ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Volume 3, p. 383.
Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
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suggested) (help) - Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
{{cite book}}
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suggested) (help) - Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die 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.
{{cite book}}
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suggested) (help) - Wegmann, Günter (2004). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil VIIIa: Panzertruppe Band 1: A–E (in German). Bissendorf, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2322-1.
{{cite book}}
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(help); Unknown parameter|trans_title=
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suggested) (help) - Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.
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External links
Categories:
- 1897 births
- 1945 deaths
- People from Werra-Meißner-Kreis
- People from Hesse-Nassau
- Wehrmacht generals
- German military personnel of World War I
- Barons of Germany
- Recipients of the clasp to the Iron Cross, 1st class
- Recipients of The Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
- Recipients of the Gold German Cross
- Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
- Military personnel referenced in the Wehrmachtbericht
- German military personnel who committed suicide
- Prussian Army personnel
- Reichswehr personnel
- German military personnel stubs