Klaus von Bismarck

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Klaus von Bismarck
Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F010980-0005, Klaus von Bismarck.jpg
Klaus von Bismarck, 11 July 1961
Born (1912-03-06)6 March 1912
estate Jarchlin, Farther Pomerania
Died 22 May 1997(1997-05-22) (aged 85)
Hamburg
Allegiance Germany Germany
Service/branch Heer
Years of service 1934–1945
Rank Oberstleutnant der Reserve
Commands held Grenadier-Regiment 4
Battles/wars

World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Other work Head of Social Welfare for Evangelical Church of Westphalia
Artistic director of WDR

Klaus von Bismarck (6 March 1912 – 22 May 1997) was the Director General of the Westdeutscher Rundfunk (West German Broadcasting) from 1961 to 1976, and the President of the ARD from 1963 to 1964. He was also the President of the Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag 1977–1979 and a member of its presidium 1950–1995, as well as President of the Goethe Institute 1977–1989.

He was a highly decorated Lieutenant Colonel (Oberstleutnant der Reserve) in the Wehrmacht during World War II. 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. According to his memoirs published in 1992 he refused to obey Hitler's Kommisar Order to execute all captured Russian political Commissars attached to the Russian Army whilst serving as an adjutant on the Russian front in 1941. (Gitta Sereny, 'Albert Speer - his battle with truth, Macmillan 1995)

He is a relative of Otto von Bismarck, Germany's first Chancellor, and was the son of Gottfried von Bismarck (1881–1928), Lord of Jarchlin and Kniephof, family estates located in Pomerania.

Bismarck received an honorary Doctor of Theology degree (Dr. h. c. theol.) from the University of Münster.

Contents

Awards and decorations [edit]

Wehrmachtbericht reference [edit]

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
24 November 1944 (addendum) In der Abwehrschlacht südöstlich von Libau zeichnete sich das Grenadier-Regiment 4 unter Führung von Major Bismarck durch hervorragende Standfestigkeit aus.[5] The 4th Greandier-Regiment under the leadership of Major Bismarck distinguished themselves by showing exceptional firmness.

References [edit]

Citations
  1. ^ a b Thomas 1997, p. 46.
  2. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 223.
  3. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 114.
  4. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 78.
  5. ^ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 3, p. 344.
Bibliography
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
  • 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 [edit]

Presidents of the Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag (German Evangelical Church Congress)
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  • Great Federal Cross of Merit with Star and Sash (2 June
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