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Sunday, March 14, 2021

The Death of Divisionskommandeur Alexander von Hartmann

 
Alexander von Hartmann (11 December 1890 – 26 January 1943) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was a recipient of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, which he received on 8 October 1942 as Generalleutnant and commander of 71. Infanterie-Division. Hartmann was killed on 26 January 1943 during the Battle of Stalingrad and was posthumously promoted to General der Infanterie. When his division (and all 6. Armee) could no longer escape from the Soviet siege around the city, Hartmann spoke to his officers calmly: "It is a great honor when an officer died in a battle. I intend to go to my infantry in the front line.. I will not kill myself, but I will sell my life dearly. I will seek death among their ranks. Captivity for a general is dishonourable." He then took the rifle and headed for the embankment of the Stalingrad train located in the south. In front of the remaining members of his division (3 officers, 7 noncommissioned officers, and 183 soldiers), von Hartmann started firing with his rifle at the Russian soldiers who was invading ... while standing still! At 8:00 a.m. on January 26, 1943, he finally fell as he wished, shot right in the head. Also killed in the same day and in the same embankment were Oberstleutnant Kurt Corduan (Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 191) and Major Bayerlein (Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 211). Hartmann was promoted to General der Infanterie posthumously (he was promoted to Generalleutnant previously, on December 1942).


Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=14230&p=2117269&
https://ww2images.blogspot.com/2020/06/ritterkreuz-award-ceremony-for.htmlhilit=alexander+von+hartmann#p2117269

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