The 72. Infanterie-Division was formed on 19 September 1939 in Trier from the pre-war Grenz-Division Trier, a border security unit. Initially stationed along the western frontier, it participated in the Battle of France in 1940 and later transferred to the Eastern Front in 1941, where it saw extensive combat in various sectors including the battles around Rzhev, the Cherkassy Pocket, and defensive actions in Ukraine. The division earned a reputation for toughness and was mentioned several times in the Wehrmachtbericht for its performance. It was largely destroyed in heavy fighting in March 1944 but was quickly reformed in June of that year and continued fighting until the final capitulation in May 1945. Throughout its existence, the 72nd Infantry Division exemplified the grueling service and high casualties experienced by many standard German infantry formations during World War II.
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SCHWERTERTRÄGER
Generalleutnant Dr.rer.pol. Hermann Hohn (1897-1968) was born on 11 October 1897 in Renchen, Baden, and died on 13 November 1968 in Ladenburg. He entered the army as a Kriegsfreiwilliger in January 1915, serving in various Fußartillerie units during the First World War and receiving both classes of the Eisernes Kreuz; promoted to Leutnant on 20 October 1917, he left active service in 1920, studied economics, earned his doctorate, and was reactivated as Hauptmann in 1935. Promoted successively to Major (1938), Oberstleutnant (1941), Oberst (January 1943), Generalmajor (1 March 1944), and Generalleutnant (30 January 1945), he served as Adjutant of the 72. Infanterie-Division, then commanded battalions and Grenadier-Regiment 105, earning the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 17 April 1943. From late 1943 he led the 72. Infanterie-Division. His Ritterkreuz, awarded on 28 November 1943 as Oberst and stellvertretender Führer of the 72. Infanterie-Division, recognized decisive defensive actions around Cherkassy in mid-November 1943, when he launched a risky flank attack against a Soviet bridgehead near Swidowok and later committed a Kampfgruppe that broke an impending encirclement of the city, destroying trapped enemy forces. The Eichenlaub (410th award) followed on 1 March 1944 for his leadership during the Cherkassy pocket in February 1944, where as Führer of the division within Kampfgruppe Stemmermann he repeatedly reorganized defenses under pressure, prevented breakthroughs through vigorous counterattacks, and led the vanguard that smashed the Soviet ring despite prolonged fighting in muddy terrain. The Schwerter (109th award) were conferred on 31 October 1944 as Generalmajor and Kommandeur of the 72. Infanterie-Division for outstanding command during the summer 1944 battles in the Sandomierz-Opatów-Ostrowiec area and for personal bravery in the Baranow bridgehead. Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht, he briefly commanded the IX. Armeekorps in April 1945, surrendered to Western Allied forces, was released in 1948, and later served as mayor of Ladenburg from 1953 to 1965.
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EICHENLAUBTRÄGER
General
der Infanterie Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller (1897-1947) was a German
officer who rose through the ranks of the Wehrmacht during World War II,
earning the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und
Schwertern for his leadership on the Eastern Front before gaining
notoriety as a harsh commander in occupied Greece. Born in Barmen,
Prussia, he joined the Imperial German Army in 1915 as an infantryman
with the 2. Infanterie-Regiment, was commissioned Leutnant der Reserve
in Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 266 later that year, and served with
distinction in World War I, receiving both classes of the Iron Cross.
Remaining in the Reichswehr and then the Heer, he advanced steadily,
becoming Oberstleutnant and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 105 by the
early stages of the invasion of the Soviet Union; it was here that his
regiment's determined actions in heavy fighting, particularly during the
reconquest of Feodosia in the Crimea where he demonstrated outstanding
personal bravery, decisiveness, and skillful leadership, led to the
award of the Ritterkreuz on 22 September 1941 as Oberstleutnant,
followed by the Eichenlaub (86th recipient) on 8 April 1942 as Oberst
still commanding the same regiment for continued success against Soviet
forces. Promoted further, he took command of the 22. Infanterie-Division
(Luftlande) in August 1942, leading it in the Dodecanese Campaign in
1943, including the successful capture of Leros, which contributed to
his reputation for resolute command and later recognition with the
Schwerter (128th recipient) on 27 January 1945 as General der
Infanterie commanding LXVIII. Armeekorps. Transferred to Fortress Crete,
Müller earned the grim nickname "The Butcher of Crete" for ordering
brutal reprisals and massacres against Greek civilians in locations such
as Viannos, Anogeia, Amari, Damasta, and the Holocaust of Kedros, as
well as the execution of Italian officers on Kos; after the war he was
captured, tried by a Greek military court in Athens for war crimes
including hostage massacres, convicted, and executed by firing squad on
20 May 1947 alongside Bruno Bräuer.
Oberstleutnant Karl Baacke (1907-1944) was born on 15 May 1907 in Aurich and entered the Reichswehr in 1924 as Grenadier in Infanterie-Regiment 16, advancing through the ranks as Obergrenadier, Gefreiter, Unteroffizier and Feldwebel before promotion to Leutnant on 1 April 1934; he subsequently served as Oberleutnant commanding the Nachrichtenzug of Infanterie-Regiment 37 and from 1937 as Hauptmann and Kompaniechef of the 6./Infanterie-Regiment 37, which later became the 2./Grenz-Infanterie-Regiment 124 of the 72. Infanterie-Division. During the Balkan campaign of 1941 he led the Vorausabteilung of the division with exceptional energy, capturing the village of Molos after tough night fighting against prepared enemy positions and thereby opening the vital route toward Athens while seizing numerous guns and prisoners, actions for which he received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 30 June 1941 as Hauptmann and Chef of the 2./Grenz-Infanterie-Regiment 124; he had earlier earned both classes of the Eisernes Kreuz in June 1940. Promoted to Major in 1941 and later to Oberstleutnant on 1 April 1943 after receiving the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 28 February 1943, Baacke assumed command of Grenadier-Regiment 266 of the 72. Infanterie-Division and distinguished himself in the heavy defensive battles around Orel, Gomel and southeast of Kiev, particularly as Platzkommandant of Cherkassy in late 1943 when he broke successive Soviet encirclement rings, enabled the evacuation of wounded and the inflow of supplies, restored contact with outside forces by storming fortified strongpoints and held the city against overwhelming infantry and tank assaults, achievements that earned him the 352nd Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz on 10 December 1943. Returning from leave in early 1944 he was ordered to form the Urlauber-Regiment Baacke from returning soldiers to relieve the Kanev-Korsun pocket; after hard fighting the improvised regiment itself became encircled near Orinin, and while leading the Nachhut during the attempted breakout Oberstleutnant Baacke was killed in action on 2 April 1944. His awards also included the Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen, Verwundetenabzeichen, Ostmedaille, Krimschild and repeated mentions in the Wehrmachtbericht.
Oberst Robert Kaestner (1913-1990) was born on 27 October 1913 in Frankfurt am Main and died on 18 November 1990 in Seeshaupt. He entered military service on 1 October 1931 with the 14. Kompanie of Infanterie-Regiment 15, transferred later to Infanterie-Regiment 36 and then Infanterie-Regiment 105, where he was promoted to Leutnant on 18 January 1938 and to Oberleutnant on 1 April 1940. After the Westfeldzug he took part in the Balkan campaign in April 1941 and from July 1941 fought on the Eastern Front, becoming Chef of the 7. Kompanie of Infanterie-Regiment 105 on 1 July 1941. Promoted to Hauptmann on 1 June 1942, he assumed command of the II. Bataillon of his regiment on 1 July 1942 and was advanced to Major on 1 April 1943; from 1 July 1943 he served as Führer of Grenadier-Regiment 105 of the 72. Infanterie-Division. His leadership in the hard fighting near Brjansk, Kiew and in the Tscherkassy area earned him the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 11 December 1943. During the battle for Cherkassy in late November 1943, as the soul of the resistance in the northern part of the city, Kaestner and his weakened forces conducted heavy defensive combat from 15 November against overwhelming Soviet attacks; on 28 November the Soviets broke through the defensive ring three times with tanks and infantry, yet without contact to the division and operating alone he repeatedly established new defensive fronts amid the urban terrain, retook lost sectors through bold counterattacks and held until the city was evacuated on 30 November, for which he received the Ritterkreuz. In early January 1944 the 72. Infanterie-Division including Grenadier-Regiment 105 was encircled in the Korsun pocket; on 16 February 1944 Kaestner and his regiment formed the attacking spearhead of the division during the breakout, penetrating two Soviet positions, eliminating two enemy batteries in close combat, reaching the area southeast of Dshurshenzy the next day, breaking another Soviet position west of the Dshurshenzy–Potschapinzy road and finally establishing contact with the 1. Panzer-Division southeast of Chishinzy, actions that brought him the 401st Eichenlaub to the Ritterkreuz on 21 February 1944. He was promoted to Oberstleutnant on 1 March 1944, attended a Divisionsführer-Lehrgang in autumn 1944, advanced to Oberst on 1 December 1944, briefly led the 905. Infanterie-Division on the Upper Rhine from 5 December 1944 and from 1 March 1945 commanded the 16. Volks-Grenadier-Division in the west until captured by American forces on 2 May 1945; he escaped captivity in 1946. His awards also included the Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse on 15 June 1940, Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse on 19 April 1941, Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen, Ostmedaille, Nahkampfspange in Bronze and Silver, and mention in the Wehrmachtbericht on 2 December 1943.
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RITTERKREUZTRÄGER
Oberleutnant der Reserve Joachim Hundert (1920-1944) was born on 22 January 1920 in Mayen, Rhine Province. He joined the Wehrmacht in November 1938 and rose through the ranks to become Leutnant der Reserve and later Oberleutnant der Reserve. He commanded the 5. Kompanie of Infanterie-Regiment 124, which was later redesignated as Grenadier-Regiment 124, participating in major campaigns including the Battle of France, the Siege of Sevastopol, and intense fighting on the Eastern Front. For his exceptional leadership and bravery in combat, particularly during defensive and offensive operations in the East, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 15 January 1943 as Führer of the 5./Grenadier-Regiment 124. Hundert continued to serve until he was killed in action on 9 August 1944 near Glazow, Poland, at the age of 24, leaving behind a legacy of courage recognized by one of the highest honors in the German military.
Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/72nd_Infantry_Division_(Wehrmacht)
https://www.feldgrau.com/ww2-german-72nd-infantry-division/
https://grokipedia.com/page/72nd_infantry_division_wehrmacht
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanteriedivisionen/72ID.htm
http://www.old.axishistory.com/list-all-categories/150-germany-heer/heer-divisionen/3785-72-infanterie-division
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