Nickname: Horst (originally a nickname derived from his birth names, officially changed on April 15th, 1936 by the District Court II in Bad Cannstatt)
Born: March 10th, 1909 - Hanover/Province of Hanover (German Empire)
Died: April 7th, 1992 - Gross Hehlen/Lower Saxony (Germany)
Buried: Unknown
Allegiance: Weimar Republic (to 1933); Nazi Germany (to 1945); West Germany
Branch/service: Heer (1927 - 1945); Bundeswehr (1956 - 1969)
Years of service: 1927-1945; 1956-1969
Commands held: Aufklarungs-Abteilung 5; Panzer-Fusilier-Regiment "Grossdeutschland"; Panzer Lehr Division
Battles/wars: World War II (French Campaign, Eastern Front, Western Front, Ruhr Pocket)
Awards: See list below
Other work: Chairman of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) from 1956; Horse breeding and equestrian sports
Religion: Unknown (likely Protestant, as common in Hanover region, but no confirmed records)
Parents: Karl Heinrich Theodor Niemack (wholesale merchant, died before Horst's birth) and Molly Minna Maria Else Juliana Auguste Niemack (nee Haarstrick, from a farming family in Lower Saxony)
Siblings: No information available
Spouse: No information available
Children: No information available
Promotions:
Fahnenjunker (April 1st, 1927)
Leutnant (February 1st, 1931)
Oberleutnant (date unknown, pre-1939)
Rittmeister (date unknown, by 1940)
Major (December 1st, 1941)
Oberstleutnant (March 1st, 1943, seniority; officially April 20th, 1943)
Oberst (January 1st, 1944)
Generalmajor (April 1st, 1945, Wehrmacht; equivalent Brigadegeneral of the Reserves in Bundeswehr post-war)
Career:
He joined the Reichswehr on 1 April 1927 as an officer candidate after completing his Abitur at a Realgymnasium in Hannover.
He was commissioned as Leutnant in Reiter-Regiment 18 on 1 February 1931.
From 1 October 1936 he served in the Heeres-Reit- und Fahr-Schule.
On 1 October 1939 he took command of 3./Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5.
He became Kommandeur of Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 on 1 April 1940.
He was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 13 July 1940 as Rittmeister and Kommandeur Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 / 5. Infanterie-Division for his leadership during the campaign in France.
He received the Eichenlaub (30th award) to the Ritterkreuz on 10 August 1941 as Rittmeister and Kommandeur Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 for actions in the early phase of Operation Barbarossa.
From 1 October 1941 to 1 February 1943 he served as Lehrgruppenkommandeur an der Panzertruppenschule II.
He was promoted to Oberstleutnant on 1 March 1943.
He took command of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26 on 1 March 1943.
He became Kommandeur of Panzer-Füsilier-Regiment "Großdeutschland" on 1 October 1943.
He was promoted to Oberst on 1 January 1944.
He received the Schwerter (69th award) to the Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub on 4 June 1944 as Oberst and Kommandeur Panzer-Füsilier-Regiment "Großdeutschland" / Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Großdeutschland".
He commanded Panzer-Lehr-Division from 15 January 1945.
He was promoted to Generalmajor on 1 April 1945.
After the war he joined the Bundeswehr and rose to the rank of Brigadegeneral der Reserve.
From 1958 to 1988 he served as Vorsitzender der Ordensgemeinschaft der Ritterkreuzträger.
Awards and Decorations:
Eisernes Kreuz (1939) 2. Klasse (17. Mai 1940)
Eisernes Kreuz (1939) 1. Klasse (12. Juni 1940)
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes #113 (13. Juli 1940) as Rittmeister, Commander of Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 (Reconnaissance Battalion 5), 5th Infantry Division. The first Ritterkreuz awarded to a Rittmeister. During the Western Campaign (Fall Gelb and Fall Rot, the invasions of France and the Low Countries starting May 10, 1940), Niemack's reconnaissance battalion operated as the division's vanguard, conducting screening operations through Belgium and the Ardennes. His unit gathered critical intelligence on French positions, disrupted enemy communications, and engaged rearguard forces to support the rapid German advance toward the English Channel and the encirclement of Allied troops at Dunkirk by late May.The decisive action occurred on June 11, 1940, during the push southward in Fall Rot. Facing strong enemy defenses at Damery on the Marne River, a direct frontal assault was deemed impossible. Niemack boldly led his battalion in an aggressive enveloping maneuver, thrusting deep into the enemy's rear. This surprise attack demoralized French forces, enabling follow-on German troops to isolate and capture major enemy elements. As a result, Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 became one of the first German units to reach the Marne, accelerating the collapse of French lines east of Paris and contributing to the armistice signed on June 22, 1940. His tactics exemplified the mobility and initiative key to Germany's blitzkrieg success.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #30 (10. August 1941) as Rittmeister, Commander of Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 (reinforced as a Vorausabteilung or advance detachment), 5th Infantry Division. In the opening days of Operation Barbarossa (the invasion of the Soviet Union, beginning June 22, 1941), Niemack's unit advanced rapidly toward the Niemen (Njemen) River as part of the push into Soviet-occupied Lithuania and Belarus. Detouring from the main road to avoid heavy resistance, they cut through Serijai and reached the Niemen at Krikstonjai on the first day. On June 27, 1941, Niemack thrust toward Orla on the Niemen. In a daring move, he split his forces: his Reiterschwadron (cavalry squadron) advanced via Szczara through Korole to the area northeast of Piaski, while the rest of the battalion followed via Korole. This allowed them to capture Hill 132 (2 km south of Korole) in addition to their assigned sector at Szczara. By blocking key roads and positions, they sealed off escape routes for Soviet forces trapped in the Bialystok-Grodno pocket, contributing to the encirclement and destruction of large Red Army elements. Despite sustaining a severe thigh wound on June 29, 1941, from enemy fire during intense counterattacks, Niemack refused evacuation and held his positions for five days, repelling all assaults with anti-tank guns, artillery support, and close-quarters combat. His leadership was publicly recognized in the Wehrmachtbericht (armed forces daily report) on July 6, 1941, highlighting his role in disrupting Soviet defenses and facilitating advances toward Smolensk and Moscow.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern #69 (4. Juni 1944) as Oberst, Commander of Panzer-Füsilier-Regiment "Großdeutschland" (Panzer Fusilier Regiment "Greater Germany"), part of the elite Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Großdeutschland". By 1944, Niemack had taken command of this regiment in October 1943, following stints with Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 26. The unit fought in grueling defensive battles on the Eastern Front, including around Kharkov (1942–1943), Kursk (Operation Citadel, 1943), and the Krivoi Rog area, where they engaged in close-combat assaults using Panzerfausts and other anti-tank weapons. Niemack often led from the front, storming trenches and inspiring his men during repeated counterattacks.The pivotal action occurred on May 2, 1944, during Soviet offensives east of the Sereth River in Romania (part of the early phases of the Red Army's summer operations around Târgu Frumos). As enemy forces launched a major assault, Niemack's regiment held firm against overwhelming odds. Suddenly, 34 Soviet tanks broke through and approached the regimental command post, threatening a vital crossroads. With only his staff, communications platoon, and drivers available, Niemack personally organized a desperate close-quarters defense. They destroyed eight enemy tanks, and Niemack himself engaged and eliminated the Soviet command tank and its crew, halting the breakthrough and repelling the attack in that sector.This award recognized the regiment's overall effectiveness in Army Group South's defensive operations, preventing Soviet advances and buying time for German regrouping. Niemack was later severely wounded on August 24, 1944, when his command vehicle was hit by tank or anti-tank fire, requiring emergency surgery to save his arm.
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold (7. April 1944)
Nennung im Wehrmachtbericht (6. Juli 1941)
Grosses Verdienstkreuz des Verdienstordens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (12. Juni 1969)
Grosses Verdienstkreuz des Niedersachsischen Verdienstordens (1977)
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Horst Niemack (10 March 1909 - 7 April 1992) was a German Army officer who served during World War II and later in the postwar Bundeswehr, achieving the rank of Generalmajor. Born in Hanover, he came from a family with agricultural roots on his mother's side in Lower Saxony. Niemack pursued a military career rooted in cavalry traditions, distinguishing himself through leadership in reconnaissance and armored units on both the Western and Eastern Fronts. He was one of the select few recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, awarded for repeated acts of bravery and tactical prowess. After the war, he transitioned to West Germany's armed forces, contributing to its rearmament, and held prominent roles in veterans' organizations. His service spanned from the Reichswehr era through the Nazi period and into the Federal Republic of Germany, reflecting the complex trajectories of many Wehrmacht officers in the postwar landscape.
Niemack's early life was marked by a strong educational foundation and an affinity for equestrian pursuits, which aligned with his future military path. He attended high schools in Hildesheim and Hanover, completing his studies at a Realgymnasium before enlisting in the Reichswehr. On 1 April 1927, at the age of 18, he joined as a Fahnenjunker in the 18th Cavalry Regiment stationed in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt. This initial posting immersed him in traditional cavalry training, emphasizing horsemanship and mobility tactics that would later evolve with mechanization. Promoted to Leutnant on 1 February 1931, Niemack continued to hone his skills, transferring in 1933 to the Tournament and Trotting Race Department at the Army Cavalry and Driving School in Hanover. By 1 October 1936, he was serving in the Cavalry Riding and Driving School, where he likely contributed to training programs amid Germany's rearmament under the Nazi regime. These prewar years built his expertise in reconnaissance and mounted operations, setting the stage for his rapid ascent during the conflict.
As World War II began, Niemack transitioned from cavalry to mechanized reconnaissance roles, commanding subunits that played pivotal parts in early German offensives. On 1 October 1939, he took command of the 3rd Company in Reconnaissance Battalion 5 (Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5), part of the 5th Infantry Division. By 1 April 1940, he assumed full command of the battalion as a Rittmeister, leading it through the invasion of France and the Low Countries in May-June 1940. During Fall Gelb and Fall Rot, his unit served as the division's vanguard, conducting vital scouting missions through Belgium and the Ardennes, disrupting French communications, and facilitating the encirclement of Allied forces at Dunkirk. A key moment came on 11 June 1940 near Damery on the Marne River, where Niemack orchestrated a flanking maneuver against fortified positions, enabling German forces to breach the line and advance toward Paris. For these actions, he received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 17 May 1940 and 1st Class on 12 June 1940, followed by the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 13 July 1940, making him the 113th recipient overall and the first Rittmeister honored in the French campaign.
Niemack's prowess continued on the Eastern Front with the launch of Operation Barbarossa on 22 June 1941. Still commanding Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 within the 5th Infantry Division under Army Group Center, his battalion advanced swiftly into Soviet territory, bypassing main roads to cross the Niemen River at Krikstonjai on the invasion's first day. On 27 June, he divided his forces for a bold push toward Orla and Szczara, capturing strategic hills and blocking Soviet retreat routes in the Bialystok-Grodno pocket, which led to the encirclement of significant Red Army units. Despite a severe thigh wound on 29 June amid fierce counterattacks, Niemack refused evacuation, holding his positions for five days with improvised defenses. His leadership was commended in the Wehrmachtbericht on 6 July 1941, and he was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross on 10 August 1941, the 30th such recipient. Following recovery, from 1 October 1941 to 1 February 1943, he served as a training group commander at Panzer Troop School II, imparting his combat experience to new officers.
Promoted to Oberstleutnant on 1 March 1943, Niemack took command of Panzer Grenadier Regiment 26, engaging in defensive operations around Kharkov and Kursk. By 1 October 1943, he led the Panzer Fusilier Regiment "Grossdeutschland" in the elite Panzer-Grenadier-Division Grossdeutschland, part of Army Group South. Under his direction, the regiment excelled in close-combat anti-tank warfare during retreats in Ukraine and Romania. A defining engagement occurred on 2 May 1944 near Targu Frumos, where Soviet armor overran positions toward his command post; Niemack personally organized a counterattack with limited forces, destroying multiple tanks including the enemy command vehicle. For sustaining defensive lines against overwhelming odds, he received the Swords to the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves on 4 June 1944, as the 69th recipient. He was promoted to Oberst on 1 January 1944 but suffered grave wounds on 24 August 1944 when his vehicle was struck, necessitating arm surgery. Upon partial recovery, he assumed command of the Panzer Lehr Division on 10 January 1945, leading it through the Ardennes aftermath and the Ruhr Pocket until the war's end, earning promotion to Generalmajor on 1 April 1945.
In the postwar era, Niemack was among the Wehrmacht veterans selectively integrated into the Bundeswehr during West Germany's rearmament in the 1950s. He served as a Brigadegeneral of the Reserves and later as Generalmajor of Panzer troops, leveraging his expertise in armored warfare. From 1956, he chaired the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR), fostering camaraderie among former awardees and advocating for their recognition. His contributions to the Federal Republic were honored with the Great Cross of Merit and the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit on 12 June 1969. Niemack maintained connections with wartime figures like Hasso von Manteuffel and remained active in equestrian circles, reflecting his lifelong passion for riding. He passed away on 7 April 1992 in Gross Hehlen near Celle, leaving a legacy as a decorated commander whose career bridged Germany's tumultuous 20th-century military history.
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Source:
Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuztrager 1939-1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbundeter Streitkrafte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives. Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubtrager 1939-1945 Band 2: L-Z. Osnabruck, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horst_Niemack
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/34543/Niemack-Horst.htm
https://ww2gravestone.com/people/niemack-horst
https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Horst_Niemack
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/N/NiemackHorst-R.htm (archived or related entries)
https://rk.balsi.de/index.php?action=list&cat=300
https://www.unithistories.com/officers/Wehrmacht_officers_N.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20091027052912/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/ (search for Horst Niemack)
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