Bio of Generaloberst Josef Harpe (1887-1968)

Full name: Josef Harpe
Nickname: No information

Born: 21 Sep 1887 in Buer, District Recklinghausen (German Empire)
Died: 14 Mar 1968 in Nuremberg (Germany)

Parents: His father was a bailiff (a minor judicial or administrative official, often in local government). No first name for the father or details on his mother are documented in standard sources.
Siblings: No information is available on any brothers or sisters.
Wife: He was married to Guste (likely short for Auguste or Augusta; full name not further specified). She died relatively young at age 47 on February 20, 1947. They are noted as buried together (though his gravestone was later removed) in the old section of the Stadtfriedhof in Eschau, Bavaria, where he lived in retirement.
Children: No records mention any sons or daughters.

Promotions:
Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier (01 Mar 1910)
Fähnrich (17 May 1910)
Leutnant (20 Mar 1911)
Oberleutnant (18 Apr 1915)
Hauptmann (18 Apr 1918)
Major (01 Apr 1931)
Oberstleutnant (01 Aug 1934)
Oberst (01 Jan 1937)
Generalmajor (30 Aug 1940)
Generalleutnant (15 Jan 1942)
General der Panzertruppe (01 Jun 1942)
Generaloberst (20 May 1944)

Career:
Entered Army Service (28 Sep 1909)
Fahnenjunker in the 56th Infantry-Regiment Vogel von Falkenstein (28 Sep 1909-01 Oct 1913)
Adjutant of the III. Battalion of the 56th Infantry-Regiment (01 Oct 1913-15 Nov 1914)
Leader of the 5th Company of the 56th Infantry-Regiment (15 Nov 1914-21 Nov 1914)
Temporary Regiments-Adjutant of the 56th Infantry-Regiment (21 Nov 1914-31 Dec 1914)
Leader of the 5th Company of the 56th Infantry-Regiment (31 Dec 1914-27 Jan 1915)
Temporary Regiments-Adjutant of the 56th Infantry-Regiment (27 Jan 1915-01 Apr 1915)
Regiments-Adjutant of the 56th Infantry-Regiment (01 Apr 1915-20 Aug 1916)
Taken ill - Field-Hospital V/XVI. Army-Corps (20 Aug 1916-15 Sep 1916)
Regiments-Adjutant of the 56th Infantry-Regiment (15 Sep 1916-23 Nov 1917)
Detached to Signals-School of Army-Group Herzog Albrecht von Württemberg in Saarburg (15 Nov 1917-21 Nov 1917)
Temporary Leader of 9th Company of the 56th Infantry-Regiment (23 Nov 1917-16 Jan 1918)
At the same time, Temporary Leader of III. Battalion of the 56th Infantry-Regiment (15 Dec 1917-22 Dec 1917)
Detached to the 43rd Field-Artillery-Regiment (16 Jan 1918-24 Jan 1918)
Detached to the General-Command of XXXVIII. Army-Corps (24 Jan 1918-28 Feb 1918)
Detached to the 43rd Field-Artillery-Regiment (28 Feb 1918-06 Apr 1918)
Detached to the Staff of the 14th Infantry-Division (06 Apr 1918-02 Jun 1918)
Wounded, in Hospital (02 Jun 1918-19 Jun 1918)
Transferred to the Replacement-Battalion of the 56th Infantry-Regiment (19 Jun 1918-24 Jun 1918)
Transferred into a General Staff Position of the 2nd Naval-Division (24 Jun 1918-20 Dec 1918)
Transferred back into the 56th Infantry-Regiment (20 Dec 1918-18 Jan 1919)
Leader of 6th Company of the 56th Infantry-Regiment (18 Jan 1919-21 Feb 1919)
General Staff Officer with Special Duties with the General-Command of VII. Army-Corps (21 Feb 1919-01 Oct 1919)
Transferred into a General Staff Position of the 3rd Reichswehr-Brigade (01 Oct 1919-16 May 1920)
Auxiliary-Officer with the Staff of Military-District-Command VI (16 May 1920-01 Jun 1921)
Detached to the Weapon-Commands with the 6th Motor-Transport-Battalion, 6th Artillery-Regiment & 5th Mounted-Regiment (01 Jun 1921-10 Sep 1921)
Transferred into the 16th Infantry-Regiment (10 Sep 1921-01 Oct 1921)
Detached to the Staff of 6th Division (01 Oct 1921-01 Oct 1922)
Transferred to the Staff of the Commander of the Troop-Exercise-Grounds Arys and Detached to the 1st Motor-Transport-Battalion (01 Oct 1922-01 Jan 1923)
Detached to the 4th Motor-Transport-Battalion (01 Jan 1923-01 Feb 1923)
Company-Chief 3 of the 4th Motor-Transport-Battalion, Leipzig (01 Feb 1923-15 Feb 1928)
Detached to Course with the Motor Transport Training Command Berlin (04 Jan 1927-01 Apr 1928)
Detached to the RWM (15 Feb 1928-01 Apr 1928)
Advisor in the Inspection of Transport Troops/RWM/In 6 and Adjutant of Generalmajor Otto von Stülpnagel (01 Apr 1928-30 Apr 1931)
Retired (30 Apr 1931)
Discharged from the Army pro Forma because of secret Reichs Military Training in the USSR, from 01 May 1931 to 01 Oct 1933 'Station-Director' of the German Combat Vehicle School Hasan [Organisation Kama]. Its pseudonym Direktor Hacker
Reactivated to Army Service (01 Nov 1933)
With Motor-Transport-Instruction-Command Zossen (01 Nov 1933-01 Oct 1934)
Commander of the I. Battalion of Motor-Transport-Instruction-Command Zossen (01 Oct 1934-15 May 1935)
Commander of the 12th Mounted-Regiment, Dresden (15 May 1935-15 Oct 1935)
Commander of the 3rd Panzer-Regiment (15 Oct 1935-01 Aug 1939)
Delegated with the Leadership of the 1st Panzer-Brigade (01 Aug 1939-18 Sep 1939)
Commander of the 1st Panzer-Brigade (18 Sep 1939-01 Mar 1940)
Commander of Panzer Troop School Wünsdorf (01 Mar 1940-05 Oct 1940)
Commander of the 2nd Infantry-Division (motorised) (05 Oct 1940-10 Jan 1941)
Commander of the 12th Panzer-Division (10 Jan 1941-15 Jan 1942)
Commanding General of XXXXI. Panzer-Corps (15 Jan 1942-15 Oct 1943)
At the same time, Delegated with the Leadership of 9th Army (19 Mar 1943-30 Mar 1943)
At the same time, Delegated with the Leadership of 9th Army (20 May 1943-09 Jun 1943)
Commander-in-Chief of 9th Army (04 Nov 1943-01 May 1944)
Commander-in-Chief of 4th Panzer-Army (01 May 1944-28 Jun 1944)
Delegated with the Temporary Leadership of Army-Group North Ukraine (For the Commander-in-Chief Generalfeldmarschall Walter Model, who from 28 Jun 1944 to 16 Aug 1944 was Delegated with the temporary Leadership of Army-Group Centre for the duration of Generalfeldmarschall Ernst Busch' leave) (28 Jun 1944-16 Aug 1944)
Delegated with the Leadership of Army-Group North Ukraine (16 Aug 1944-21 Sep 1944)
Commander-in-Chief of Army-Group North Ukraine (21 Sep 1944-24 Sep 1944)
Commander-in-Chief of Army-Group A (24 Sep 1944-17 Jan 1945)
Discharged from Command and placed on Führer-Reserve OKH (Hitler's scapegoat for the Russian breakthrough at the Baranov-Bridgehead) (17 Jan 1945-09 Mar 1945)
Commander-in-Chief of the 5th Panzer-Army (09 Mar 1945-17 Apr 1945)
In US Captivity (17 Apr 1945-14 Apr 1948)
Released (14 Apr 1948)

Awards and Decorations:
- Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes #418 am 13.08.1941 als Generalmajor und Kommandeur der 12. Panzer-Division. Harpe earned the award for his leadership during the defensive battle along the Wop River (near the Smolensk area) in late July 1941, early in Operation Barbarossa. His division held a 40-km sector under heavy assault from a Soviet Siberian corps (including the 91st Siberian Division) on 24–25 July 1941. Through superior tactical command, coordination with Luftwaffe support, and decisive counterattacks, the division repelled the offensive and virtually annihilated the attacking 91st Siberian Division. This stabilized the German lines during the broader advance and defensive fighting east of Smolensk, preventing a Soviet breakthrough at a critical early stage of the campaign in the central sector.
- Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #55 am 31.12.1941 als Generalmajor und Kommandeur der 12. Panzer-Division. The award recognized Harpe's outstanding performance in the fighting around Tikhvin (southeast of Leningrad) during the autumn and winter of 1941, part of the German attempt to encircle Leningrad and the subsequent Soviet counteroffensives. His division successfully advanced to and captured Tikhvin as planned, despite Harpe sustaining a head wound (he refused evacuation and stayed with his troops). When the broader German forces received orders to withdraw due to Soviet pressure and harsh winter conditions, the 12. Panzer-Division served as the rearguard from 10–17 December 1941. Even though the city was nearly encircled, Harpe orchestrated an orderly retreat that allowed three retreating German divisions to reach their designated fallback positions with minimal losses in personnel and equipment. His division's disciplined rearguard actions prevented a rout and preserved combat effectiveness under extreme conditions (cold, supply shortages, and constant Soviet attacks).
- Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern #36 am 15.09.1943 als General der Panzertruppe und Kommandierender General des XLI. Panzer-Korps. This higher grade honored Harpe's skillful command of the XXXXI. Panzerkorps during the intense fighting around Orel (and the northern flank of the Kursk salient) in July–August 1943, following the German offensive Operation Citadel and during the subsequent Soviet summer offensives (Operation Kutuzov). In early July 1943, south of Orel, Harpe's corps conducted both offensive and defensive operations. His decisive leadership enabled the smashing of Soviet assembly areas preparing for their own offensive, disrupting enemy plans. When the Soviets launched their attack, he rapidly repositioned his forces into effective defensive positions, repelling multiple Soviet divisions while inflicting heavy losses—especially in tanks. Shortly afterward, the corps shifted to the combat sector north of Orel, where German units had been forced to retreat due to overwhelming Soviet superiority. Harpe personally rallied the retreating forces (with only a young officer as escort), rushing between hotspots to organize cohesive resistance. In late July, a major Soviet penetration occurred northwest of Orel. Harpe quickly ordered countermeasures, personally intervened at the affected division command posts, and within hours stabilized the situation. This reformed the defensive front and bloodily repulsed assaults by numerous Soviet rifle divisions and tank brigades. A contemporary German press article (likely from a Wehrmacht communique or propaganda release) summarized the Swords citation as follows: “At the start of July 1943, as the commanding General of a Panzerkorps south of Orel in both attack and defense, General der Panzertruppe Harpe achieved a considerable success through the smashing of the enemy assembly areas for their offensive. This was possible thanks to his skillful and decisive leadership. When the Soviets then commenced their attack, he was able to reposition his troops swiftly and effectively for defense. They were able to repel the incoming Soviet divisions while inflicting heavy losses in men and especially in tanks. Within a short time he was moved to the combat sector north of Orel. Here he was to rally the German units that had been forced to retreat in several locations (due to the enemy superiority) for defense. With only a young officer as an escort, he rushed from one hotspot of the fighting to the other and organized a cohesive resistance. A major enemy penetration took place northwest of Orel on one of the last days of July. After General der Panzertruppe Harpe had ordered the necessary countermeasures, he rushed to the command posts of the impacted divisions. After a few hours the danger had been resolved thanks to his decisive intervention. The defensive front was successfully reformed and the onslaught of numerous enemy rifle divisions and tank brigades bloodily repulsed.”
- Deutsches Kreuz in Gold: am 19.02.1943 als General der Panzertruppe und Kommandierender General des XLI. Panzer-Korps
- 1914 EK I: 03.09.1915
- 1914 EK II: 21.09.1914
- Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918 in Schwarz
- Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
- Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV. bis I. Klasse
- Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13.03.1938
- Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 01.10.1938 mit Spange "Prager Burg"
- Spange zum EK I (1940)
- Spange zum EK II (1940)
- Panzerkampfabzeichen in Silber
- Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/1942"
- Romanian Order of the Crown Grand Cross with Swords and Crown
- Wehrmachtbericht: 01.01.

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Josef Harpe (21 September 1887 - 14 March 1968) was a German general during World War II who commanded the 9th Army. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords of Nazi Germany. Harpe served on the Eastern Front where he commanded XXXXI Panzer Corps and the 9th Army. From September 1944 to January 1945 he commanded Army Group A until he was relieved of his command due to the inability of German forces to stop the Soviet Vistula-Oder Offensive. He ended the war commanding the 5th Panzer Army on the Western Front. Harpe was also responsible for establishing the Ozarichi death camps which historians consider one of the worst atrocities committed by the Wehrmacht.

Harpe was born on 21 September 1887 in Buer in the German Empire (now part of Gelsenkirchen in North Rhine-Westphalia). He enlisted as an officer candidate in the Prussian Army on 28 September 1909 with Infantry Regiment Vogel von Falckenstein (7th Westphalian) No. 56. During World War I he fought on the Western Front. He served in roles including battalion adjutant company commander and regimental adjutant. He was wounded in action and awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 21 September 1914 and 1st Class on 3 September 1915. By the end of the war in 1918 he had reached the rank of Hauptmann (captain). He also received the Wound Badge in Black.

After World War I Harpe remained in the Reichswehr. He held various staff and command positions. In 1931 under the pseudonym Direktor Hacker he served at the secret German-Soviet Tank School (Kama tank school) in Kazan in the Soviet Union as part of covert military cooperation. He was promoted to Oberstleutnant on 1 August 1934 and became commander of Panzer Regiment 3 on 15 October 1935. Promoted to Oberst on 1 January 1937 he took command of the 1st Panzer Brigade. At the start of World War II he led this brigade during the invasion of Poland in 1939. In 1940 he served as commandant of the Armoured Troops School No. 2 in Wünsdorf.

Harpe was promoted to Generalmajor on 30 August 1940. He briefly commanded the 2nd Motorized Infantry Division from October 1940 to January 1941. From 10 January 1941 he commanded the 12th Panzer Division on the Eastern Front during Operation Barbarossa. His division fought in battles around Minsk and later at Tikhvin where it played a key role in the advance and subsequent withdrawal under difficult conditions. Harpe was wounded in the head during the fighting at Tikhvin but remained with his troops.

He was promoted to Generalleutnant on 15 January 1942 and to General der Panzertruppe on 1 June 1942. From 15 January 1942 to October 1943 he commanded XXXXI Panzer Corps participating in defensive operations south of Orel and other sectors. He received multiple high decorations for his leadership in these campaigns including during the Battle of Kursk and subsequent defensive fighting.

In 1943 he temporarily commanded the 9th Army on several occasions before assuming permanent command on 4 November 1943. He was promoted to Generaloberst on 20 May 1944 (some records list 1 May 1944). From May to June 1944 he commanded the 4th Panzer Army and briefly led Army Group North Ukraine. On 24 September 1944 he took command of Army Group A which covered a large sector in Poland and Ukraine. He was relieved on 17 January 1945 after the failure to halt the Soviet Vistula-Oder Offensive which led to the loss of much of Poland. In March 1945 he was appointed commander of the 5th Panzer Army on the Western Front. He led this army during the final defensive operations until he was captured by American forces in the Ruhr Pocket on 17 April 1945.

On 12 March 1944 while commanding the 9th Army Harpe ordered the forced removal of civilians deemed incapable of work in the Belarus sector. This included the sick the elderly women with multiple young children and family members of forced laborers described as useless mouths to free up resources and space for troops. Soldiers from the 35th Infantry Division under Johann-Georg Richert along with units from Sonderkommando 7b of Einsatzgruppe B rounded up at least 40 000 civilians and forced them into three makeshift camps near Ozarichi south of Bobruisk in marshy terrain. The camps had no buildings sanitary facilities food water or medical aid and were enclosed only by barbed wire with guard towers and dogs. Prisoners many already suffering from typhus were shot if they tried to light fires or escape. At least 9 000 died from exposure starvation and disease before the Red Army's 65th Army liberated the survivors on 19 March 1944 freeing around 33 480 people including over 15 000 children under 13. Historians such as Dieter Pohl have described the Ozarichi camps as one of the worst crimes committed by the Wehrmacht against civilians. Harpe was never prosecuted for these actions. Richert who directly oversaw parts of the operation was later tried by a Soviet court in the Minsk Trial sentenced to death and executed in 1946.

Harpe was held as a prisoner of war by the United States Army until his release on 14 April 1948. He was never charged with any war crimes. He lived the remainder of his life as a free man and died on 14 March 1968 at the age of 80 in Nuremberg West Germany.

Harpe's military career spanned both world wars and reflected the evolution of the German Army from infantry to armored warfare. His commands on the Eastern Front were marked by both tactical successes in mobile operations and involvement in the harsh occupation policies that characterized the later stages of the conflict in Belarus.

Source :
https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/josef-harpe_5624B06B8B
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josef_Harpe
http://www.geocities.ws/orion47.geo/WEHRMACHT/HEER/Generaloberst/HARPE_JOSEF.html