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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
AllegianceGerman Empire German Empire (to 1918)
Germany Weimar Republic (to 1933)
Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
Service/branchHeer
Years of service1918–1945
RankGeneralleutnant (Posthumously)
Commands held9th Panzer Division
Battles/warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Harald 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 to Maj. Ferdinand Johann Georg von Elverfeldt, the Major was attached to the Imperial Embassy in St. Petersburg. On March 25, 1918, Harald secured his patent as a Faehnrich in the 1st Foot Guards Regiment. He 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 November 24, 1919. Harald married Elizabeth von Berg in 1923 and had two daughters, the first in 1924 and the second in 1929. He was promoted to Oberleutnant in 1926, Hauptmann in 1933 and Major in 1937. He served in the 3rd Light Division (Germany) during the Polish Campaign and was awarded the to Iron Cross I and the clasp to the Iron Cross II. Harald was promoted to Oberstleutnant on November 1.

Harald 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 and Operation Zigeunerbaron). 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 took command of the division and commanded it until December 28, 1944 and then again from February 1945 - until his death in March 1945. Elverfeldt was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on December 9, 1944 and was posthumously awarded Oak Leaves on March 23, 1945 along with a promotion to Generalleutnant.

Medals and Decorations

Dates of Rank

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. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 145.
  2. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 83.
Bibliography
  • Mitcham, Samuel W. Jr. 2008."Panzer Commanders of the Western Front:German Tank Generals in WWII". Mechanicsburg PA, USA.StackPole Books. ISBN978-0-8117-3507-0.
  • 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.
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

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