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Georg Lindemann

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Georg Lindemann
Born8 March 1884
Osterburg, Province of Saxony, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died25 September 1963(1963-09-25) (aged 79)
Freudenstadt, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany
Allegiance German Empire (to 1918)
 Weimar Republic (to 1933)
 Nazi Germany
Service / branchArmy
Years of service1903–45
RankGeneraloberst
Commands36. Infanterie-Division
L. Armeekorps
18. Armee
Battles / warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Georg Heinrich Lindemann (8 March 1884 – 25 September 1963) was a German cavalry officer and field commander who served in the German army during World War I (Reichswehr) and World War II (Wehrmacht Heer). He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves ([Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)). 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. Lindemann survived the Second World War and was released after several years as a prisoner-of-war (POW).

Early life

Georg Lindemann was born in Osterburg (Altmark) in the Province of Saxony. Lindemann was the son of Hermann Lindemann and his wife Elisbeth, née Placke. He was the 1st cousin of Dr. jur. Ernst Lindemann, father of Kapitän zur See Ernst Lindemann, the only commander of the German battleship Bismarck.

Lindemann joined the Prussian Officer corps and served in World War I on both the Eastern Front and the Western Front. After the war, he joined Von Lettow's Freikorps and, during the civil unrest of 1919, helped to crush the Communist Workers Council in Hamburg. In 1930, Lindemann was serving as Commanding officer of the 13th Reiter Regiment.

World War II

With the rise of the NSDAP, Lindemann was promoted to Commander of the Kriegsschule in Hanover. He occupied this position until 1936. In 1936, Lindemann was promoted to Generalleutnant and given command of the 36th Infantry Division. The division was involved in guarding the Saar region during the Invasion of Poland, and it then took part in the Invasion of France. At the end of the Western campaign, Lindemann was promoted to Cavalry General (General der Kavallerie) and given command of the L Army Corps.

In June 1941, at the launch of Operation Barbarossa, Lindemann's Corps was a part of Army Group North. Lindemann commanded the corps during the army group's advance towards Leningrad. His unit was briefly shifted to the command of Army Group Centre during the Battle of Smolensk. Lindemann's corps was then shifted back to Army Group North.

On 16 January 1942, Lindemann took the command of the 18th Army, a part of Army Group North. Later, in the summer of 1942, he was promoted to Colonel-General (Generaloberst).

Lindemann commanded the 18th Army throughout the campaigns around Leningrad and during the January 1944 retreat from Oranienbaum to Narva. He was promoted to command of Army Group North on 31 March 1944. On 4 July 1944 he was relieved and transferred to the Reserve Army.

On 1 February 1945, he was appointed to the command of all German troops in Denmark as the "Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces in Denmark" (Wehrmachtsbefehlshaber Dänemark). In April 1945, Lindemann issued an order to his troops to preserve strict discipline. He further ordered that Denmark be defended to the last bullet.

On 3 May, Lindemann participated in a meeting with the OKW, the new government and the new German Head of State, Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz at the Naval Academy at Mürwik. Lindemann informed Dönitz that he would be able to hold Denmark for some time, and he and his colleague in Norway, General Franz Böhme, argued for keeping Denmark and Norway in German hands as bargaining chips in the armistice negotiations soon to come. Instead, Germany surrendered unconditionally in northwest Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark on 5 May 1945. Lindemann was then given the task of dismantling the German occupation of Denmark until 6 June 1945, when he was arrested at his headquarters in Silkeborg.

Post-war

Lindemann was a POW in American custody until 1948. After his release, Lindemann went into retirement in West Germany. He died on 25 September 1963.

Awards and decorations

Wehrmachtbericht references

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
29 June 1942 [Unter Führung des Generals der Kavallerie Lindemann haben Truppen des Heeres und der Waffen-SS, dabei auch spanische, niederländische und flämische Freiwilligenverbände, hervorragend unterstützt durch die Luftflotte des Generaloberst Keller, nach monatelangem erbitterten Kämpfen unter schwierigsten Wetter- und Geländeverhältnissen diese feindlichen Armeen zunächst von ihren rückwärtigen Verbindungen abgeriegelt, dann immer mehr zusammengedrängt und heute endgültig vernichtet.] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)[4] Under the leadership of General of the Cavalry Lindemann, troops of the Army and Waffen-SS, including Spanish, Dutch and Flemish volunteer units, excellently supported by the Air Fleet of Colonel-General Keller, after months of bitter fighting under difficult weather and terrain conditions, these hostile armies, were first sealed off from their communication and supply lines, then crowded together more and more, and today finally destroyed.
12 August 1943 [In der dritten Schlacht südlich des Ladogasees haben die unter Führung des Generalfeldmarschalls Küchler, des Generalobersten Lindemann und des Generals der Infanterie Wöhler stehenden deutschen Truppen, unterstützt von den durch General der Flieger Korten geführten Luftwaffenverbänden, in der Zeit vom 22. Juli bis 6. August den Ansturm der 8. und 67. sowjetischen Armee in heldenmütigen Kämpfen abgeschlagen und damit die Durchbruchsabsichten des Feindes vereitelt.] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)[5] In the third battle south of Lake Ladoga, German troops standing under the command of Field Marshal Küchler, Colonel General Lindemann and General of Infantry Wöhler, supported by Air Force organizations led by the Luftwaffe General Korten, in the period of 22 July to 6 August have heroically thwarted the assault of the 8th and 67th Soviet army and prevented the breakthrough intentions of the enemy.

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d Thomas 1998, p. 28.
  2. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 239.
  3. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 62.
  4. ^ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, p. 180.
  5. ^ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, p. 538.

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}}: 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}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  • Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  • Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943 (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)
Military offices
Preceded by
none
 Commander of 36. Infanterie-Division
1 September 1939 – 25 October 1940 		Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Otto-Ernst Ottenbacher
Preceded by
Generalfeldmarschall Georg von Küchler
 Commander of 18. Armee
16 January 1942 – 29 March 1944 		Succeeded by
General der Artillerie Herbert Loch
Preceded by
Generalfeldmarschall Walter Model
 Commander of Heeresgruppe Nord
31 March 1944 – 4 July 1944 		Succeeded by
Generaloberst Johannes Frießner

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