Ritterkreuzträger of 123. Infanterie-Division

The 123. Infanterie-Division was a standard infantry formation of the German Wehrmacht that saw extensive, grueling frontline combat on the Eastern Front throughout World War II. Established on 5 October 1940 at the Regenwurmlager training grounds near Meseritz in Wehrkreis III as part of the 11. Welle, the division drew personnel from the 23. Infanterie-Division, 257. Infanterie-Division, and 3. Infanterie-Division (mot.). Its combat backbone comprised Infanterie-Regiment 415, Infanterie-Regiment 416, Infanterie-Regiment 418, and Artillerie-Regiment 123, alongside organic support units such as Pionier-Bataillon 123 and Panzerjäger-Abteilung 123. Following border security duties in East Prussia, the division entered Operation Barbarossa in June 1941 under II. Armeekorps within 16. Armee of Heeresgruppe Nord. Spearheading advances toward Sebesch, the formation was heavily committed around Lake Ilmen and the Valdai Hills. Its original commander, General der Infanterie Walter Lichel, was mortally wounded in combat in August 1941 and was succeeded by Generalleutnant Erwin Rauch. In early 1942, the division became completely encircled in the brutal Demyansk Pocket, enduring relentless Soviet assaults, frostbite, and supply shortages while playing an instrumental defensive role until an overland relief corridor was pierced in April 1942. The division held positions in the salient until the Demyansk perimeter was evacuated during Unternehmen Ziethen in March 1943. After brief service near Kholm, the formation transferred to Heeresgruppe Süd in October 1943, under commanders including Generalleutnant Erwin Menny and Generalmajor Louis Tronnier. Deployed into intense defensive clashes in the Zaporizhzhia and Nikopol bridgeheads along the lower Dnieper bend, the exhausted division suffered catastrophic attrition under massive Soviet winter offensives. Decimated in heavy combat around Kryvyi Rih, the 123. Infanterie-Division was formally dissolved on 1 March 1944, with its surviving remnants consolidated into Divisionsgruppe 123 within Korpsabteilung F.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RITTERKREUZTRÄGER


Oberst der Reserve Albert Graf von der Goltz (1893-1944) was an aristocratic German officer whose distinguished military path culminated in frontline command during World War II. Entering military service in 1913 as Fahnenjunker in 1. Brandenburgische Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 2, he earned the Eisernes Kreuz 1914 II. und I. Klasse before returning as Hauptmann der Reserve in 9. Infanterie-Regiment. Advancing steadily to Major der Reserve and later Oberstleutnant der Reserve, he achieved renown for exceptional tactical determination on the Eastern Front. On 7 May 1942, as commander of I. Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 415 within 123. Infanterie-Division, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes for resolute leadership, stabilizing critical defensive sectors and repelling ferocious Soviet assaults around Lake Ilmen and the Demyansk Pocket. By autumn 1943, leading mountain troops under 3. Gebirgs-Division, his initiative proved pivotal during the grueling defensive battles southeast of Zaporizhzhia. Facing overwhelming enemy formations, his tenacious direction of Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 144 and Gebirgs-Jäger-Regiment 138 successfully held ruptured frontlines, earning him mention in the Wehrmachtbericht on 3 October 1943 and the 316th Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 2 November 1943. Promoted to Oberst der Reserve on 1 December 1943, his accolades also included the Spange zum Eisernen Kreuz II. und I. Klasse, the Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42, and the Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold. While commanding Gebirgs-Jäger-Regiment 138 during the heavy withdrawal near Novy Bug on 14 March 1944, he suffered severe wounds resulting in the loss of his right arm, succumbing two days later in a Lazarett at Odessa.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/123rd_Infantry_Division_(Wehrmacht)