Friedrich Wilhelm Eduard Kasimir Dietrich von Saucken
Date of Birth: 16.05.1892 - Fischhausen, East Prussia (Germany)
Date of Death: 27.09.1980 - Pullach, Bavaria (Germany)
Battles and Operations: Battle of Stallupönen, Gumbinnen, Tannenberg, Verdun, Carpathian Mountains, German Spring Offensive, Hundred Days Offensive, Finnish Civil War, Invasion of Poland, Battle of France, Balkan Campaign, Operation Barbarossa, Battle of Moscow, Operation Citadel, Operation Bagration, Vistula-Oder Offensive, East Prussian Offensive
NSDAP-Number: no information
SS-Number: no information
Religion: no information
Parents: Wilhelm Eduard Hans George Erich von Saucken and Bertha Marie Westphal
Siblings: no information
Spouse: Elisabeth Wilhelmine Elfriede Salome Sophie von Saucken (married 27.07.1923 in Loschen)
Children: Hans-Erich von Saucken (1924-1944), Freda von Saucken (1926), Edelgard von Saucken (1929), Karin von Saucken (1934), Eckart von Saucken (1937), Berta von Saucken (1940)
Promotions
01.10.1910 Fahnenjunker
19.07.1911 Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier
18.08.1911 Fähnrich
19.06.1912 Leutnant
18.08.1917 Oberleutnant
01.04.1925 Rittmeister
01.05.1934 Major
01.10.1936 Oberstleutnant
01.06.1939 Oberst
01.01.1942 Generalmajor
01.04.1943 Generalleutnant
01.08.1944 General der Panzertruppe
Career
01.10.1910 joined Grenadier-Regiment König Friedrich Wilhelm I. (2. Ostpreußisches) Nr. 3 in Königsberg as Fahnenjunker
1914-1918 World War I service on Eastern Front with 1. Division (Stallupönen, Gumbinnen, Tannenberg) then Western Front (Verdun, Carpathians 1917, Spring Offensive, Hundred Days Offensive) and with Baltic Sea Division in Finnish Civil War
1921 joined Freikorps then Reichswehr
1927 special assignment in the Soviet Union (learned fluent Russian)
1934 instructor at War School Hannover
1937-01.10.1940 commander of Reiter-Regiment 2
01.10.1940-09.12.1941 commander of Schützen-Brigade 4 of 4. Panzer-Division (France, Balkans, Barbarossa)
27.12.1914-02.01.1942 temporary commander of 4. Panzer-Division near Moscow
1942 commandant of Schule für Schnelle Truppen
31.05.1943-14.01.1944 commander of 4. Panzer-Division (Kursk and defensive battles)
late June 1944 acting commander of III. Panzer-Korps
29.06.1944-15.10.1944 commander of XXXIX. Panzer-Korps (formed as Kampfgruppe von Saucken after Bagration, defended Berezina escape routes)
28.09.1944-11.02.1945 commander of Panzerkorps Großdeutschland (counterattacks north of Minsk, Vistula-Oder fighting)
12.03.1945-07.04.1945 Oberbefehlshaber of 2. Armee in East Prussia (evacuation of Danzig area)
07.04.1945-09.05.1945 Oberbefehlshaber of Armee Ostpreußen until surrender on Hel Peninsula
Awards and Decorations
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (06.01.1942, 790. Verleihung) as Generalmajor and Führer 4. Panzer-Division / LIII. Armee-Korps / 2. Panzer-Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte. Awarded for his vigorous leadership of Kampfgruppen Grolig and Lüttwitz during the winter crisis of 1941/42. On 28.12.1941 a vastly superior Soviet force broke through German lines near Blocknja, Bagrinow, Krivzowa and Chmelewaja, threatening the entire Oka position. Through fierce fighting from 29.12.1941 to 02.01.1942 Saucken personally directed counterattacks that crushed the enemy penetration and restored the front.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub (22.08.1943, 281. Verleihung) as Generalleutnant and Kommandeur 4. Panzer-Division / XXXXVI. Panzer-Korps / 9. Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte. Awarded for the outstanding performance of his division during Soviet Operation Kutuzov. South of Orel near Jablonowez the division took over a critical defensive sector and destroyed 62 enemy tanks in heavy fighting, preventing a Soviet breakthrough and enabling a successful German counterattack that stabilized the line.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern (31.01.1944, 46. Verleihung) as Generalleutnant and Kommandeur 4. Panzer-Division / XXXXVI. Panzer-Korps / 9. Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte. Awarded for the division's exceptional success in the hard defensive battles around Gomel in late 1943, where repeated Soviet attacks were repelled through skillful mobile defense and counterthrusts that inflicted heavy losses on the enemy.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwerter und Brillanten (08.05.1945, 27. Verleihung) as General der Panzertruppe and Oberbefehlshaber Armeeoberkommando Ostpreußen. Awarded in recognition of his overall leadership and accomplishments throughout the war, with particular emphasis on his exemplary command during the final battle for East Prussia in early 1945. Despite overwhelming odds he maintained discipline, organized the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of civilians and soldiers across the Baltic, and held the Hel Peninsula until unconditional surrender, refusing personal evacuation by air.
Dietrich von Saucken, a Prussian aristocrat and cavalry officer who embodied the old-school military tradition with his monocle and saber, rose through the ranks to become one of the most capable armored commanders of the Wehrmacht and the final recipient of the highest German decoration of World War II. Born into East Prussian nobility, he fought in both world wars with distinction, commanded panzer formations on the Eastern Front during critical defensive battles, and led his troops with a sense of honor that often set him apart from the Nazi regime he served under. His leadership in desperate situations earned him every grade of the Knight's Cross, culminating in the Diamonds on the day of Germany's surrender. After ten years in Soviet captivity he was released in 1955 and lived quietly in Pullach until his death in 1980.
Dietrich von Saucken personified the archetypal Prussian conservative officer who openly despised the Nazi brown mob and maintained traditional customs even in the Führerbunker. In March 1945, when ordered to take command of the 2. Armee, he entered Hitler's presence wearing his cavalry saber, kept his monocle in place, gave only a slight bow instead of the Nazi salute, and when told he must subordinate himself to Gauleiter Albert Forster of Danzig, he struck the marble map table with his hand and declared I have no intention, Herr Hitler, of placing myself under the orders of a Gauleiter. To the astonishment of those present Hitler backed down. As a youth Saucken showed great talent as an artist, influenced by the expressionist Künstlerkolonie Nidden on the Curonian Spit. He spoke fluent Russian after his 1927 assignment in the Soviet Union. On 9 May 1945 he refused an offer to escape by plane and chose to surrender with his troops on the Hel Peninsula. His oldest son Leutnant Hans-Erich von Saucken was killed in action in Romania in May 1944. Saucken was buried in Munich alongside his wife and son.
Source:
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/
https://en.wikipedia.org/
https://www.tracesofwar.com/
https://grokipedia.com/
https://rk.balsi.de/index.php?action=list&cat=300
https://www.unithistories.com/units_index/index.php?file=/officers/personsx.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20091027052912fw_/http://geocities.com/orion47.geo/index2.html
https://forum.axishistory.com/
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/
https://www.bundesarchiv.de/en/
https://www.geni.com/
https://books.google.com/
http://de.metapedia.org/
Additional cross-referenced data from "Panzer Leader" by Heinz Guderian, "The Face of Courage" by Florian Berger, and various Wehrmacht officer biographical publications available via books.google.com.
Date of Birth: 16.05.1892 - Fischhausen, East Prussia (Germany)
Date of Death: 27.09.1980 - Pullach, Bavaria (Germany)
Battles and Operations: Battle of Stallupönen, Gumbinnen, Tannenberg, Verdun, Carpathian Mountains, German Spring Offensive, Hundred Days Offensive, Finnish Civil War, Invasion of Poland, Battle of France, Balkan Campaign, Operation Barbarossa, Battle of Moscow, Operation Citadel, Operation Bagration, Vistula-Oder Offensive, East Prussian Offensive
NSDAP-Number: no information
SS-Number: no information
Religion: no information
Parents: Wilhelm Eduard Hans George Erich von Saucken and Bertha Marie Westphal
Siblings: no information
Spouse: Elisabeth Wilhelmine Elfriede Salome Sophie von Saucken (married 27.07.1923 in Loschen)
Children: Hans-Erich von Saucken (1924-1944), Freda von Saucken (1926), Edelgard von Saucken (1929), Karin von Saucken (1934), Eckart von Saucken (1937), Berta von Saucken (1940)
Promotions
01.10.1910 Fahnenjunker
19.07.1911 Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier
18.08.1911 Fähnrich
19.06.1912 Leutnant
18.08.1917 Oberleutnant
01.04.1925 Rittmeister
01.05.1934 Major
01.10.1936 Oberstleutnant
01.06.1939 Oberst
01.01.1942 Generalmajor
01.04.1943 Generalleutnant
01.08.1944 General der Panzertruppe
Career
01.10.1910 joined Grenadier-Regiment König Friedrich Wilhelm I. (2. Ostpreußisches) Nr. 3 in Königsberg as Fahnenjunker
1914-1918 World War I service on Eastern Front with 1. Division (Stallupönen, Gumbinnen, Tannenberg) then Western Front (Verdun, Carpathians 1917, Spring Offensive, Hundred Days Offensive) and with Baltic Sea Division in Finnish Civil War
1921 joined Freikorps then Reichswehr
1927 special assignment in the Soviet Union (learned fluent Russian)
1934 instructor at War School Hannover
1937-01.10.1940 commander of Reiter-Regiment 2
01.10.1940-09.12.1941 commander of Schützen-Brigade 4 of 4. Panzer-Division (France, Balkans, Barbarossa)
27.12.1914-02.01.1942 temporary commander of 4. Panzer-Division near Moscow
1942 commandant of Schule für Schnelle Truppen
31.05.1943-14.01.1944 commander of 4. Panzer-Division (Kursk and defensive battles)
late June 1944 acting commander of III. Panzer-Korps
29.06.1944-15.10.1944 commander of XXXIX. Panzer-Korps (formed as Kampfgruppe von Saucken after Bagration, defended Berezina escape routes)
28.09.1944-11.02.1945 commander of Panzerkorps Großdeutschland (counterattacks north of Minsk, Vistula-Oder fighting)
12.03.1945-07.04.1945 Oberbefehlshaber of 2. Armee in East Prussia (evacuation of Danzig area)
07.04.1945-09.05.1945 Oberbefehlshaber of Armee Ostpreußen until surrender on Hel Peninsula
Awards and Decorations
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (06.01.1942, 790. Verleihung) as Generalmajor and Führer 4. Panzer-Division / LIII. Armee-Korps / 2. Panzer-Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte. Awarded for his vigorous leadership of Kampfgruppen Grolig and Lüttwitz during the winter crisis of 1941/42. On 28.12.1941 a vastly superior Soviet force broke through German lines near Blocknja, Bagrinow, Krivzowa and Chmelewaja, threatening the entire Oka position. Through fierce fighting from 29.12.1941 to 02.01.1942 Saucken personally directed counterattacks that crushed the enemy penetration and restored the front.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub (22.08.1943, 281. Verleihung) as Generalleutnant and Kommandeur 4. Panzer-Division / XXXXVI. Panzer-Korps / 9. Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte. Awarded for the outstanding performance of his division during Soviet Operation Kutuzov. South of Orel near Jablonowez the division took over a critical defensive sector and destroyed 62 enemy tanks in heavy fighting, preventing a Soviet breakthrough and enabling a successful German counterattack that stabilized the line.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern (31.01.1944, 46. Verleihung) as Generalleutnant and Kommandeur 4. Panzer-Division / XXXXVI. Panzer-Korps / 9. Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte. Awarded for the division's exceptional success in the hard defensive battles around Gomel in late 1943, where repeated Soviet attacks were repelled through skillful mobile defense and counterthrusts that inflicted heavy losses on the enemy.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwerter und Brillanten (08.05.1945, 27. Verleihung) as General der Panzertruppe and Oberbefehlshaber Armeeoberkommando Ostpreußen. Awarded in recognition of his overall leadership and accomplishments throughout the war, with particular emphasis on his exemplary command during the final battle for East Prussia in early 1945. Despite overwhelming odds he maintained discipline, organized the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of civilians and soldiers across the Baltic, and held the Hel Peninsula until unconditional surrender, refusing personal evacuation by air.
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Dietrich von Saucken, a Prussian aristocrat and cavalry officer who embodied the old-school military tradition with his monocle and saber, rose through the ranks to become one of the most capable armored commanders of the Wehrmacht and the final recipient of the highest German decoration of World War II. Born into East Prussian nobility, he fought in both world wars with distinction, commanded panzer formations on the Eastern Front during critical defensive battles, and led his troops with a sense of honor that often set him apart from the Nazi regime he served under. His leadership in desperate situations earned him every grade of the Knight's Cross, culminating in the Diamonds on the day of Germany's surrender. After ten years in Soviet captivity he was released in 1955 and lived quietly in Pullach until his death in 1980.
Dietrich von Saucken personified the archetypal Prussian conservative officer who openly despised the Nazi brown mob and maintained traditional customs even in the Führerbunker. In March 1945, when ordered to take command of the 2. Armee, he entered Hitler's presence wearing his cavalry saber, kept his monocle in place, gave only a slight bow instead of the Nazi salute, and when told he must subordinate himself to Gauleiter Albert Forster of Danzig, he struck the marble map table with his hand and declared I have no intention, Herr Hitler, of placing myself under the orders of a Gauleiter. To the astonishment of those present Hitler backed down. As a youth Saucken showed great talent as an artist, influenced by the expressionist Künstlerkolonie Nidden on the Curonian Spit. He spoke fluent Russian after his 1927 assignment in the Soviet Union. On 9 May 1945 he refused an offer to escape by plane and chose to surrender with his troops on the Hel Peninsula. His oldest son Leutnant Hans-Erich von Saucken was killed in action in Romania in May 1944. Saucken was buried in Munich alongside his wife and son.
Source:
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/
https://en.wikipedia.org/
https://www.tracesofwar.com/
https://grokipedia.com/
https://rk.balsi.de/index.php?action=list&cat=300
https://www.unithistories.com/units_index/index.php?file=/officers/personsx.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20091027052912fw_/http://geocities.com/orion47.geo/index2.html
https://forum.axishistory.com/
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/
https://www.bundesarchiv.de/en/
https://www.geni.com/
https://books.google.com/
http://de.metapedia.org/
Additional cross-referenced data from "Panzer Leader" by Heinz Guderian, "The Face of Courage" by Florian Berger, and various Wehrmacht officer biographical publications available via books.google.com.
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