Harald Freiherr von Elverfeldt

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Harald Freiherr von Elverfeldt
Born(1900-02-06)6 February 1900
Hildesheim
Died6 March 1945(1945-03-06) (aged 45)
Cologne
Buried
Cemetery of Hildesheim
Allegiance German Empire (to 1918)
 Weimar Republic (to 1933)
 Nazi Germany
Service/branchHeer
Years of service1918–45
RankGeneralleutnant (Posthumously)
Commands held9th Panzer Division
Battles/warsWorld War I

World War II

AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Harald Max Gustav August Freiherr von Elverfeldt[a] (6 February 1900 – 6 March 1945) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 9 Panzer Division. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Biography

Harald Freiherr von Elverfeldt was born in 1900 in Hildesheim, the son of Major Ferdinand Johann Georg von Elverfeldt, who was attached to the Imperial Embassy in St. Petersburg. On March 25, 1918, in the final year of the First World War, Elverfeldt secured his patent as a Fähnrich in the 1st Foot Guards Regiment, was rushed through an officer's training course, and sent into combat. He was wounded in May 1918 and was awarded the Iron Cross II. After the war he remained in the 100,000-man Reichswehr and was promoted to Leutnant on 24 November 1919. He married Elizabeth von Berg in 1923, and they had two daughters, the first in 1924 and the second in 1929. Elverfeldt was promoted to Oberleutnant in 1926, Hauptmann in 1933, and Major in 1937. He served in the 3rd Light Division during the Polish Campaign and was awarded the Iron Cross I and the clasp to the Iron Cross II. He was promoted to Oberstleutnant on 1 November 1939.

Elverfeldt then participated in the Battle of France and Operation Barbarossa. In March 1942 he was promoted to Oberst and was awarded the German Cross in Gold. Throughout the rest 1942 and early 1943 he participated in several anti-partisan operations (Operation Eisvogel (Operation Common Kingfisher) and Operation Zigeunerbaron (Operation Gypsy Baron). In September 1943 he was promoted to the rank of Generalmajor and served in the Crimea. In September 1944, after the 9th Panzer Division had fought in Normandy, Harald von Elverfeldt was given command of the division and commanded it until December 28, 1944, and then again from February 1945 until he was killed in action in March 1945. Elverfeldt was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 December 1944, and was posthumously awarded Oak Leaves on 23 March 1945, along with a promotion to Generalleutnant.

Medals and Decorations

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
26 November 1944 [ Bei den harten Abwehrkämpfen im Raum Geilenkirchen hat sich die 9. Panzerdivision mit zugeteilten Heerestruppen unter Führung von Generalmajor Freiherr von Elverfeldt durch besondere Standhaftigkeit ausgezeichnet. Vom 17. Bis 22. November wurden durch die Division 134 feindliche Panzer, teilweise im Nahkampf, vernichtet und mehrere hundert Gefangene eingebracht.] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) In the tough defensive battles in the vicinity of Geilenkirchen, the 9th Panzer Division augmented with Army troops, under the command of Major General Freiherr von Elverfeldt, distinguished itself by showing particular firmness. From 17 to 22 November, the Division destroyed 134 enemy tanks, partly in close combat, and captured several hundred prisoners of war.

Dates of Rank

25 March 1918: Fähnrich[2]
24 November 1919: Leutnant[2]
27 February 1921: Received patent dated 15 November 1919[2]
1 July 1922: Rank age dated 1 April 1919[2]
1 January 1926: Oberleutnant with a rank age dated 1 January 1926[2]
1 September 1933: Hauptmann with a rank age dated 1 September 1933[2]
16 March 1937: Major with a rank age dated 1 March 1937[2]
20 March 1939: Rank age dated 1 August 1936[2]
31 October 1939: Oberstleutnant effective as of 1 November 1939 with a rank age date 1 November 1939[2]
15 February 1942: Oberst effective as of 1 March 1942 with a rank age date 1 March 1942[2]
8 September 1943: Generalmajor effective as of 1 September 1943 with a rank age date 1 September 1943[2]
1 March 1945: Generalleutnant posthumously[2]

Footnotes

  • a Regarding personal names: Freiherr is a former title (translated as Baron). In Germany since 1919, it forms part of family names. The feminine forms are Freifrau and Freiin.

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b Thomas 1997, p. 153.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Wegmann 2004, p. 375.
  3. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 102.
  4. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 293.
  5. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 172.
  6. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 100.

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 (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  • Mitcham, Samuel W. Jr. 2008."Panzer Commanders of the Western Front:German Tank Generals in WWII". Mechanicsburg PA, USA.StackPole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3507-0.
  • 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}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= 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}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  • Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= 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}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= 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. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Generalmajor Gerhard Müller
 Commander of 9th Panzer Division
16 September 1944 – 28 December 1944 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of 9th Panzer Division
February 1945 – 6 March 1945 		Succeeded by

Template:KCwithOL Template:Knight's Cross recipients of the 9th PD

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