Erpo Freiherr von Bodenhausen

Erpo Kraft Bodo Ernst Gustav Wilke Freiherr von Bodenhausen
Born	12 April 1897 Schloß Arnstein
Died	9 May 1945(1945-05-09) (aged 48) Grobin
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1914 - 1945
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands	12. Panzer Division L. Armeekorps
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Balkan Campaign Operation Barbarossa Siege of Leningrad Battle of Kursk Courland Pocket
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Erpo Kraft Bodo Ernst Gustav Wilke Freiherr von Bodenhausen^[a] (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. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was 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 surrendering to Soviet forces.

Awards and decorations

• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black (27 September 1918)
• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (12 October 1915)
  • 1st Class (6 October 1917)
• Cross of Honor (1934)
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Silver (?)
  • in Gold (?)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (22 September 1939)
  • 1st Class (30 September 1939)
• Panzer Badge in Bronze (1 November 1940)
• Eastern Front Medal (3 October 1942)
• German Cross in Gold (3 January 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
  • Knight's Cross on 15 December 1943 as Generalmajor and commander of 12. Panzer-Division
• Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht (18 February 1944 and 28 December 1944)

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

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.

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• World War 2 Awards.com
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945
• Erpo Freiherr von Bodenhausen @ Axis Biographical Research