Bio of Generalleutnant Georg von Bismarck

 

Georg von Bismarck (15 February 1891 – 31 August 1942) joined the army in 1910 and took part in World War I. During the interwar years he served as an officer in the Reichswehr. During World War II, Bismarck took part in the Invasion of Poland in September 1939. During the Battle of France in 1940, he commanded a motorized infantry regiment of Erwin Rommel's 7th Panzer Division.

In 1941 he was promoted to commander of the newly formed 20th Panzer Division. He led the division during Operation Barbarossa on the Eastern Front as a part of Army Group Centre. In January 1942 he was transferred to Africa to serve in the Africa Korps as commander of the 21st Panzer Division. Here he again served under Rommel. Bismarck was killed by a mine while leading the 21st Panzer Division in the Battle of Alam el Halfa, 31 August 1942.

Georg von Bismarck received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 29 September 1940 as Oberst and Kommandeur Schützen-Regiment 7 / 7.Panzer-Division. Here follows an excerpt from Bismarck’s Ritterkreuz recommendation: "Oberst von Bismarck has led his Regiment with prudence and dedication during many successful operations in Poland and the West. These successes were decisive for the favourable course of the 7. Panzer-Division’s operations: A crossing over the Maas river near Leffe was forced on 13 May 1940; The attack of Gefechtsgruppe von Bismarck on 18 May 1940 over the Sambre river near Ors (south of Landecries), the clearing of Ors after a hard battle, the continuation of the attack during the late afternoon through the southern part of Le Cateau, Caudry up to the heights just southeast of Cambrai; The attack of the reinforced Schützen-Regiment 7 over the La Basse canal near Cuinchy on the evening of 26 May 1940 and the night that followed, and the attack through Givenchy as far as Fournes on 27 May 1940; The attack by the reinforced Schützen-Regiment 7 on 5 June 1940 from the bridgehead position south of the Somme river through Les Wuesnoy, Montagne-Fayel up to the area between Champs and Montagne-Fayel; The breakthrough of the Weygand Line.”

Source :
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek München
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_von_Bismarck
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28465/Bismarck-von-Georg.htm