Ritterkreuz Actions of Friedrich Mieth

Friedrich Mieth (4 June 1888 - 2 September 1944) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 2 November 1943 as General der Infanterie and Kommandierender General IV. Armeekorps. The medal was awarded for his leadership of the IV. Armeekorps during the fighting on the Mius front and east of Nikopol in mid-1943. Previously, when the Rumanian armies collapsed around Stalingrad, Hitler upgraded headquarters’ of 11. Armee to Headquarters of Heeresgruppe Don, and called upon the brilliant Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein to stabilize the front and save the besieged 6. Armee. Manstein hastily summoned Generalleutnant Mieth and named him commander of security and rear-area troops for the new army group. Because of the rapid speed of the Soviet breakthroughs, however, Mieth’s real function was to organize ad hoc units and lead them into combat to help stem the Russian tide. On New Year’s Day 1943, for example, he was in the Zymlia sector, commanding four ad hoc combat groups, each of approximately regimental strength, plus the 336. Infanterie-Division and what was left of the 7. Luftwaffe Feld-Division. With these forces he was conducting a delaying action near the Don River. His hastily organized headquarters was already known as Korps Mieth. From January to July 1943, Mieth fought in the battles along the Don, in the Donetz, and in the retreat to the Mius. During this period he had to maintain constant flexibility because his units were always changing, as the southern sector of the Eastern Front underwent crisis after crisis. On March 4, for example, Mieth controlled the 336. and 384. Infanterie divisions and the 23. Panzer-Division. Five weeks later all these units had been transferred, and Mieth was directing the 3. Gebirgs and the 304. and 335. Infanterie divisions. Mieth, however, proved himself to be an excellent field commander, and on April 20, 1943 (Hitler’s birthday), he was promoted to General der Infanterie. His headquarters was recognized as a permanent formation on July 20, when it was upgraded to IV. Armeekorps—named after a unit destroyed at Stalingrad. In the meantime, it received its corps units, including the 404th Artillery Command (Arko 404), the 44th Signal Battalion, and the 404th Supply Troop.

Mieth received the Eichenlaub #409 for his Ritterkreuz on 1 March 1944 as General der Infanterie and Kommandierender General IV. Armeekorps. The medal was awarded for his continued distinguished Korps command during the fighting for the Nikopol bridgehead in the winter of 1943/44. Here the Germans inflicted heavy losses on the Soviet forces that sought to crush this position. Wehrmachtbericht 18 February 1944: "In the heavy fighting in the area of Nikopol, the Ostmark, Bavaria, Rhineland-Westphalia, Saxony, Mecklenburg, Pomerania and East Prussia Division under the command of the General of Mountain Troops Schörner and the generals Brandenberger, Mieth and Kreysing in the time frame of 5 November 1943 to 15 February 1944 in offensive and defensive actions, prevented Bolsheviks attempts to break through with cold steel and inflicted heavy losses. Thereby have been captured or destroyed 1754 tanks, 533 guns, many other weapons and other military equipment. Also 56 enemy aircraft have been shot down by infantry weapons."

Source :
https://stalinogorsk.ru/112pd
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/12134/Mieth-Friedrich.htm
https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2020/01/26/friedrich-mieth/