Bio of General der Panzertruppe Heinrich von Lüttwitz (1896-1969)

Full name: Heinrich Diepold Georg Freiherr von Lüttwitz
Nickname: none widely documented

Date of birth: 6 December 1896 - Krumpach-Trebnitz, Schlesien (German Empire)
Date of death: 9 October 1969 - Neuburg an der Donau, Bayern (West Germany)
Buried: Franziskanerstrasse cemetery, Neuburg an der Donau

Religion: Protestant (Evangelist)
Parents: Friedrich Wilhelm Karl Ludwig Hans Wolf August Freiherr von Lüttwitz (1849-1919), a former army officer, and Johanna Mathilde Luise Wanda Klara von Unruh (1859-1943), from a prominent junker military family.
Spouse: He married twice. His first marriage in 1920 was to Jutta Vera Jenny Edith Elise von Engelmann (born 1898); they divorced in 1927. They had one son: Hans-Wolf Georg Curt Heinrich Wilhelm Freiherr von Lüttwitz (1922-2011). His second marriage in 1927 was to Jutta Marie-Therese Johanna Ella Freiin von Stein zu Kochburg. From this marriage came two children: Christa Marie Therese (born 1929) and Hans-Jürgen Heinz Hubertus (born 1932).

Promotions:
06.08.1914: Fahnenjunker
01.12.1914: Leutnant (mit Patent vom 18.06.1915)
01.04.1925: Oberleutnant
01.02.1931: Rittmeister
01.01.1936: Major
01.02.1939: Oberstleutnant
01.10.1941: Oberst
01.12.1942: Generalmajor
01.06.1943: Generalleutnant
01.11.1944: General der Panzertruppe

Career:
06.08.1914: Entered service as a Fahnenjunker.
05.10.1914: WIA
01.12.1914: Commisioned as a Leutnant in Ulan-Regiment 1.
01.09.1939-04.09.1940: Kommandeur of Kradschutzen-Bataillon 59.
02.09.1939: severely WIA
04.09.1940-02.07.1941: Kommandeur of I.Bataillon / Schützen-Regiment 11
02.07.1941-01.06.1942: Kommandeur of Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 59.
01.06.1942-01.10.1942: Kommandeur of 20. Schützen-Brigade.
01.10.1942-05.05.1943: Kommandeur of 20. Panzer-Division.
01.02.1944-31.08.1944: Kommandeur of 2. Panzer-Division.
20.08.1944: WIA
04.09.1944-08.05.1945: Kommandierender General of XXXXVII. Panzer-Korps
17.04.1945-01.07.1947: POW
After release, he lived quietly in West Germany until his death in 1969.

Awards and Decorations:
18.05.1915: 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
02.06.1918: 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.1918: Verwundetenabzeichen 1918 in Schwarz (WIA 05.10.1914 at Hennemont, Verdun)
00.00.19__: Schlesisches Bewährungsabzeichen 2. Stufe 
00.00.1934: Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer 
02.10.1936: Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht IV.Klasse, 4 Jahre 
02.10.1936: Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht III.Klasse, 12 Jahre
02.10.1936: Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht II.Klasse, 18 Jahre
02.10.1936: Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht I.Klasse, 25 Jahre 
20.09.1939: 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
02.03.1930: Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber (WIA 05.10.1914 + 02.09.1939)
01.08.1941: 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
07.08.1941: Panzerkampfabzeichen
19.12.1941: Deutsches Kreuz in Gold #34/36 (According to other source the awarding date is 20.12.1941)
27.05.1942: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes #1101, as Oberst and Kommandeur Schützen-Regiment 59 / 20.Panzer-Division. In the harsh winter and early spring fighting of 1942, von Lüttwitz demonstrated outstanding leadership and tactical skill. In February 1942, he led a Kampfgruppe that successfully prevented two Soviet armies from linking up, disrupting a major enemy encirclement attempt and stabilizing the German lines during critical defensive operations.
Later, in April 1942, his regiment faced intense Soviet attacks in the area between the Ugra and Worja rivers, near Bereski. Under his command, the unit mounted a stubborn and skillful defense, repelling repeated assaults. His actions played a decisive role in the eventual liquidation of the so-called Belyi (Below) Pocket, where several Soviet formations were trapped and destroyed. Von Lüttwitz's regiment maintained cohesion under heavy pressure, conducted effective counterattacks, and held key positions that prevented a Soviet breakthrough, contributing significantly to the stabilization of the front in the central sector.
29.08.1942: Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold
00.00.1942: Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
03.09.1944: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #571, as Generalleutnant and Kommandeur 2. Panzer-Division. By August 1944, during the brutal fighting in Normandy, the 2. Panzer-Division under von Lüttwitz was heavily engaged as the Allies attempted to encircle German forces in the Falaise Pocket. As the pocket tightened under relentless Allied air and ground pressure, with roads choked by burning vehicles and constant artillery and fighter-bomber attacks, von Lüttwitz orchestrated a masterful fighting withdrawal and breakout operation.
His division launched aggressive counterattacks to keep escape corridors open, notably in the St. Lambert-sur-Dives area, where panzergrenadiers and remaining tanks punched through Canadian positions. Despite being wounded, he continued to command from the front, directing desperate assaults that briefly reopened routes for thousands of German troops to slip eastward through the narrowing gap. Under murderous fire, with the division reduced to a fraction of its strength and operating with minimal fuel and ammunition, his leadership enabled large numbers of men and some equipment to escape annihilation, preserving a fighting core for future operations. His calm authority and tactical decisiveness amid the chaos of the collapsing pocket earned him the Eichenlaub.
09.05.1945: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern #157, as General der Panzertruppe and Kommandierender General XLVII. Panzerkorps during the Ardennes Offensive (Battle of the Bulge) in December 1944–January 1945. Von Lüttwitz led armored thrusts through difficult terrain in harsh winter conditions. His corps played a key role in encircling American forces at Bastogne. On 21 December 1944, he issued a formal surrender demand to the surrounded U.S. 101st Airborne Division, highlighting the dire situation and offering honorable terms to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. The famous "Nuts!" reply came in response.
Although the assault on Bastogne ultimately failed due to stubborn American resistance, fuel shortages, and Allied reinforcements, von Lüttwitz's corps conducted aggressive operations against superior forces, maintaining pressure and achieving temporary breakthroughs in the snowy forests and villages of the Ardennes. Later actions in the retreat across the Rhine and defensive fighting in the Ruhr area further supported the nomination. His personal leadership and corps-level coordination in the face of overwhelming odds formed the basis for the Schwerter recommendation, though the war's end prevented its approval.
Heinrich von Lüttwitz's nomination by the troop was received by the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Personnel Office) on 28 April 1945. Major Joachim Domaschk decided on 30 April: "Heeresgruppe B, postpone!" General Von Lüttwiz together with the remaining forces of the Heeresgruppe B was either taken prisoner of war or missing in action in the Ruhr Pocket on 15 April. The nomination was thus not further processed in accordance with AHA 44 Ziff. 572 (Allgemeines Heeresamt — General Army Office). The nomination list for the higher grades of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes also contains a note from 28 April 1945: "postponed". A bestowal thus didn't occur. The sequential number "157" and presentation date were assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (OdR).

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Heinrich Freiherr Von Luttwitz was a German general of the Wehrmacht during World War II who rose to the rank of General der Panzertruppe. Born on 6 December 1896 in Krumpach, Silesia, into an old Prussian noble family with a long military tradition, he belonged to the Junker class that formed the backbone of the German officer corps. His full name was Heinrich Diepold Georg Freiherr Von Luttwitz. He served with distinction in both world wars, earning a reputation as a capable panzer commander known for his aggressive leadership and resilience in difficult situations. Von Luttwitz came from a family where military service was expected, with his father having been an army officer.

During World War I, Von Luttwitz enlisted as a Fahnenjunker in August 1914 at the age of seventeen. He was commissioned as Leutnant in December 1914 and saw action on the Western Front with infantry and cavalry units, including the 48th Infantry Regiment and later the 1st Ulan Schutzen Regiment. He earned both classes of the Iron Cross and was wounded in combat. After the war he joined the Reichswehr and continued his career in cavalry formations, notably with the 8th Cavalry Regiment. He was promoted to Oberleutnant on 1 April 1925 and later to Rittmeister in 1931. An accomplished equestrian, he participated in international competitions and represented Germany at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

With the expansion of the German Army in the 1930s, Von Luttwitz transitioned into motorized and armored units. He held various command and staff positions as Germany prepared for war. At the outbreak of World War II he commanded Kradschutzen Bataillon 59 during the Polish campaign in 1939, where he was wounded. In the following years he gained extensive experience on the Eastern Front with the 20th Panzer Division. As commander of Schutzen Regiment 59, later redesignated as Panzergrenadier Regiment 59, he led his troops through heavy defensive fighting in the winter and spring of 1942. His regiment played a key role in preventing Soviet breakthroughs and contributed to the destruction of enemy forces in the Belyi Pocket area. For these actions he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 May 1942.

In 1944 Von Luttwitz assumed command of the 2nd Panzer Division during the Normandy campaign. Under his leadership the division fought intense battles against superior Allied forces equipped with overwhelming air support. During the chaotic retreat and attempted breakout from the Falaise Pocket in August 1944, he orchestrated determined counterattacks and rearguard actions that allowed many of his men to escape encirclement despite heavy losses. Even after being wounded he continued to direct operations from the front lines. His performance in these desperate battles earned him the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross on 3 September 1944. Shortly afterward he was promoted to General der Panzertruppe and took command of the XLVII Panzer Corps.

As commanding general of the XLVII Panzer Corps, Von Luttwitz participated in the Ardennes Offensive in December 1944. His corps spearheaded attacks through the difficult terrain of the Ardennes forest in harsh winter conditions. On 21 December 1944 he issued a formal demand for the surrender of the surrounded American forces at Bastogne, an action that became well known due to the famous "Nuts!" reply from the 101st Airborne Division. Although the offensive ultimately failed because of fuel shortages, stubborn American resistance, and Allied reinforcements, Von Luttwitz continued to lead aggressive operations. His corps later fought in the defensive battles west of the Rhine and in the Ruhr Pocket until he was captured by American forces in April 1945. He was released from captivity in 1947.

After the war Heinrich Freiherr Von Luttwitz lived quietly in West Germany. He avoided public controversy and focused on private life. He passed away on 9 October 1969 in Neuburg an der Donau at the age of 72 and was buried in the local Franziskanerstrasse Cemetery. Married twice, he had three children from his unions. Throughout his career he was respected by both superiors and subordinates for his tactical skill, personal bravery, and dedication to his troops in some of the most demanding campaigns of the Second World War. His service reflected the experiences of many professional German officers who fought from the early victories to the final defensive struggles of the conflict.

Source: 
Fellgiebel, W.P. Elite of the third reich. Helion & company.  
Thomas, Franz & wegmann, gunter. Die eichenlaubtrager 1940-1945. Biblio-verlag.  
Berger, florian. Mit eichenlaub und schwertern.  
Patzwall, k. & scherzer, v. Das deutsche kreuz 1941-1945.  
Kwasny, a. & kwasny, g. Die eichenlaubtrager 1940-1945 (cd).  
Kursietis, andris j. The wehrmacht at war 1939-1945.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinrich_Freiherr_von_L%C3%BCttwitz  
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/11490/L%C3%BCttwitz-Freiherr-von-Heinrich-General-der-Pz.htm  
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/  
https://rk.balsi.de/  
https://www.geni.com/  
https://forum.axishistory.com/  
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/  

Bio of Generalmajor Hermann von Oppeln-Bronikowski (1899-1966)

Full name: Hermann Leopold August von Oppeln-Bronikowski
Nickname: No information

Date of birth: 2 January 1899 - Berlin (German Empire)
Date of death: 19 September 1966 - Gaißach, Bavaria (West Germany)

Religion: The broader Oppeln‑Bronikowski family is historically associated with the Calvinist (reformed) confession in several branches, but there is no explicit public record stating Hermann’s personal confession; sources therefore usually list his religion as “unknown” or do not specify it further.
Parents: Hermann von Oppeln‑Bronikowski (later General der Infanterie in the Kaiserliche Armee) and Marie von Oppeln‑Bronikowski (maiden name not clearly established in open online sources).
Siblings: Public biographical records do not list specific names or numbers of siblings for Hermann Leopold August; detailed family archives focus instead on earlier generations of the Oppeln‑Bronikowski house.
Spouse: Edelgard von Kleist (married mid‑June 1931 in Züllichau, daughter of generalleutnant Adolf von Kleist).
Children: Published sources do not give clear, consistently cited names or numbers of children; some genealogical notes mention “children” in plural but without specific details usable in an authoritative bio.

Promotions:
23 March 1917: Fähnrich
19 December 1917: Leutnant
1 October 1919: Leutnant (with patent from 1 April 1918)
1 April 1925: Oberleutnant
1 June 1933: Rittmeister
1 March 1937: Major
1 August 1940: Oberstleutnant (ranked as of december 1941, with renewed seniority from june 1939 in some records)
1 February 1942: Oberst
30 January 1945 (effective from 1 January 1945): Generalmajor

Career:
1912 Entered the Bensberg Cadet School near Cologne, later transferred to the cadet institute at Groß-Lichterfelde near Berlin.
23 March 1917 Promoted to Fähnrich.  
19 December 1917 Promoted to Leutnant. Voluntarily reported to the front and joined Infantry Regiment “Prince Carl” Nr. 118 on the Western Front. Served as platoon and troop leader in Champagne and the Argonne.  
28 May 1918 Awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class.  
14 October 1918 Awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class (one of the youngest lieutenants to receive it), personally presented by Lieutenant-General Paul von Kleist.
1 October 1919 Reappointed as Leutnant with patent from 1 April 1918. Continued service in the reduced Reichswehr, initially in cavalry and infantry roles.  
1 April 1925 Promoted to Oberleutnant.  
1 June 1933 Promoted to Rittmeister (cavalry captain).  
1 March 1937 Promoted to Major.
1936 Competed as an equestrian in the Berlin Summer Olympics. Won the gold medal in team dressage riding the East Prussian gelding “Gimpel”.
1939 Served as commander of the reconnaissance battalion (Aufklärungs-Abteilung 24) of the 24th Infantry Division during the invasion of Poland.  
25 September 1939 Awarded the 1939 Clasp to the Iron Cross 2nd Class.  
10 November 1939 Awarded the 1939 Clasp to the Iron Cross 1st Class.
1 August 1940 Promoted to Oberstleutnant (with RDA seniority dated 17 December 1941, later renewed to 1 June 1939 in some records).  
Voluntarily transferred to the Panzertruppe on 1 October 1941 and assigned to the 5th Panzer Brigade in the 4th Panzer Division. Took command of elements of Panzer-Regiment 35.
Fought in the advance toward Moscow (Orel-Tula sector) and subsequent defensive battles.  
 Mid-January 1942 Took command of Panzer-Regiment 35.  
1 February 1942 Promoted to Oberst.  
October 1942 Assumed command of Panzer-Regiment 204 of the 22nd Panzer Division.  
Led desperate counterattacks and defensive actions with the 22nd Panzer Division in the winter of 1942-43 near Army Group Don to prevent encirclements related to the Stalingrad battle. His Kampfgruppe achieved notable successes, destroying large numbers of Soviet tanks, guns, and heavy weapons despite heavy losses.  
1 January 1943 Awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross as Oberst and commander of Panzer-Regiment 204.  
7 August 1943 Awarded the German Cross in Gold as Oberst in Panzer-Regiment 11 (after earlier command transitions).  
Suffered a war injury in 1943.
Recovered and appointed commander of Panzer-Regiment 22 of the 21st Panzer Division.  
Led immediate armored counterattacks against Allied forces after the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944. Some of his tanks reached toward the coast but were forced to withdraw under pressure. His regiment held positions around Caen for approximately 32 days against superior Allied forces, maintaining defensive lines despite heavy fighting and fuel/ammunition shortages.  
28 July 1944 Awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross (536th recipient) as Oberst and commander of Panzer-Regiment 22.
26 September 1944 Participated in a division commanders’ course.  
7 November 1944 Took temporary or preparatory leadership role toward commanding the 20th Panzer Division, succeeding General der Panzertruppe Mortimer von Kessel.
30 January 1945 (effective from 1 January 1945): Promoted to Generalmajor.  
Assumed full command of the 20th Panzer Division in Silesia. Led defensive operations and counterattacks against Soviet advances, including actions near the Neisse River, defense of Neisse, a corridor to Breslau over the Zobten mountain, relief of encircled troops at the fortress of Bautzen (freeing about 1,200 soldiers), and holding actions toward Spremberg.  
17 April 1945 Awarded the Swords to the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves (142nd recipient) as Generalmajor and commander of the 20th Panzer Division for these actions.
On 8 May 1945, upon learning of the unconditional surrender at the command post of Fallschirm-Panzerkorps “Hermann Göring”, he dissolved his division in an orderly manner, allowing small groups to break out toward American lines.  
Taken prisoner by American forces on 18 May 1945. Held in various camps (including Staudemühle near Paderborn and British camps in Belgium). Interrogated and initially classified as a potential war criminal due to his role in the defense of Caen but later released in 1947 as “completely innocent"
Post-war life: Worked as a civil engineering consultant and contributed to the reconstruction of the new German Bundeswehr. Served as a riding instructor, including preparing the Canadian Olympic dressage team for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.  
Interviewed by author Cornelius Ryan for the book *The Longest Day*.
19 September 1966   Died of a heart attack in Gaißach, Bavaria, West Germany, at the age of 67.

Awards and Decorations:
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse 1914 (28 May1918)
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse 1914 (14 October 1918)
Spange zum Eisernen Kreuz 2. Klasse 1939 (25 September 1939)
Spange zum Eisernen Kreuz 1. Klasse 1939 (10 November 1939)
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Panzerkampfabzeichen in Silber (Stufe II oder ohne Zahl)
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (1 January 1943) as Oberst and Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment 204 / 22.Panzer-Division. The actions that earned him the award took place during the desperate winter battles of Heeresgruppe Don in late 1942 and early 1943. As commander of a panzer-regiment, von Oppeln-Bronikowski led aggressive armored counterattacks in the vast snow-covered plains of the Don-Donets region and the great Don bend. Amid collapsing german lines and the looming disaster at Stalingrad his Kampfgruppe repeatedly clashed with far superior soviet forces in freezing conditions where temperatures plunged below minus thirty degrees and supply lines were almost nonexistent. Between early December 1942 and early January 1943 his panzers destroyed or captured 451 enemy tanks, 209 guns, and 752 heavy infantry weapons. In one notable engagement his tanks executed rapid flanking maneuvers through deep snow to surprise and annihilate a soviet battlegroup in close-range duels. Despite severe equipment shortages including tanks immobilized when field mice chewed through electrical wiring his unit held critical sectors and delayed massive soviet advances buying vital time for other german formations.
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (7 August 1943 as Oberst in Panzer-Regiment 11)
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #536 (28 July 1944) as Oberst and Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment 22 / 21.Panzer-Division. On 6 June 1944 immediately after the Allied D-Day landings he launched bold counterattacks pushing his panzer IV tanks northward toward the coast in an attempt to split the British and Canadian beachheads. Some of his armored vehicles advanced so far that crews could see the english channel before being forced back by devastating naval gunfire, fighter-bomber attacks and determined infantry resistance. For the next thirty-two days his regiment fought a grueling defensive battle around the city of Caen. In the dense bocage countryside with its thick hedgerows that restricted movement and visibility his panzers absorbed relentless bombardments from allied warships and aircraft while launching sharp local counterthrusts to plug gaps in the line. Day and night the unit held its positions through skillful use of covered firing points and rapid repositioning despite mounting losses in tanks fuel and men. His energetic and personal leadership helped maintain fighting spirit in the face of overwhelming allied material superiority.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern #142 (17 April 1945) as Generalmajor and Kommandeur 20. Panzer-Division. Oppeln-Bronikowski’s award recommendation reads as follows:
“In the time period 15.-17.03.1945 the enemy deployed overwhelming infantry and tank forces in a southerly direction from Grottkau in the direction of Neisse, and they achieved a deep penetration into friendly lines. In response the 20. Pz.Div. (attached to VIII. Korps at the time) was dispatched against this threat, with its foremost elements located north of Neisse being the first to engage the enemy. Although this maneuver managed to contain the hostile thrust following bitter combat, on the 18.03.1945 the enemy thrust forwards along the axis Stephansdorf—Gross-Giessmannsdorf—Hochdorf with their 6th Guards Mechanized Corps and the 282nd Rifle Division. Their goal was to envelop Neisse from the west.
Following this dangerous turn-of-events Generalmajor von Oppeln (commander of the 20. Pz.Div.) and his staff were pulled out of the area north of Neisse. He received the mission to use the newly arrived elements of his Division to engage the advancing enemy and close the gap between Neisse and Nowag.
Undeterred by the unclear situation, Generalmajor von Oppeln immediately conducted a personal reconnaissance of the terrain that had been occupied by the foe. He found and reorganized those defending forces that were still fighting, and eliminated the opposing armoured spearheads in Hochdorf in a lightning-swift display of action. After this he personally led a counterattack against the enemy troops that had penetrated into the forest north of Gross-Giessmannsdorf. This series of actions that Generalmajor von Oppeln directed from the foremost line proved sufficient to prevent a hostile breakthrough towards the Neisse—Ottmachau road.
The bold, flexible leadership and inspiring personal bravery of Generalmajor von Oppeln have enabled him to repeatedly halt and smash strong enemy tank and infantry formations time and again. The 20. Pz.Div. was attached to VIII. Korps for the second time in 4 weeks, and it has once again proven itself to be an elite division. The Division has shown itself to possess both energy and endurance (especially in night attacks). For his part Generalmajor von Oppeln has particularly distinguished himself through both his demonstrated personal bravery as well as the swiftness with which he executes his plans.
Generalmajor von Oppeln has already previously distinguished himself during the fighting on the 07.02.1945, during the first 4-day attachment of his Division to the Korps. On this day he was present at the spearhead of the armoured group during its attack, and he provided the tempo for the successful night attack that was launched against the bitterly defending foe near Grottkau. He delivered similarly impressive results on the 27.01.1945, during the offensive combat in the Upper Silesian industrial area. Although his armoured vehicle was knocked out twice on this day he continued to lead the spearhead group towards the south and into the enemy’s midst. This opened up a path for the bulk of the encircled friendly Divisionen to occupy new positions.
This commander is possessed of particularly flexible leadership, uncompromising boldness and outstanding skill, and these virtues are reflected in the ranks of his Panzer-Division. He and his men never fail to deliver crushing blows upon the foe wherever they are deployed.”

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Hermann leopold august von oppeln-bronikowski was a german army officer and olympic equestrian champion who rose to the rank of generalmajor during the second world war. Born on 2 january 1899 in berlin into a prussian noble family with deep military roots his father was a general of the infantry. He entered cadet school in 1912 first at bensberg and later at gross-lichterfelde. During the first world war he volunteered for frontline service and was commissioned as a leutnant in late 1917. He fought on the western front with infantry regiment prince carl no. 118 earning both classes of the iron cross 1914 by october 1918 at a young age. After the war he continued his career in the reichswehr transitioning through various cavalry and infantry postings while steadily advancing in rank.

In parallel with his military duties von oppeln-bronikowski excelled in competitive dressage. He represented germany at the 1936 summer olympics in berlin where he contributed to the team gold medal riding the east prussian gelding gimpel. The horse had previously helped secure gold in 1928. Individually he placed tenth. His horsemanship and cavalry background later informed his reputation as a bold and energetic commander once the wehrmacht began emphasizing armored warfare. By 1939 he had reached the rank of major and commanded the reconnaissance battalion of the 24th infantry division during the invasion of poland. For his performance he received the 1939 clasps to both classes of the iron cross.

With the expansion of the panzer forces von oppeln-bronikowski transferred to armored units in 1941. He commanded panzer-regiment 35 then panzer-regiment 204 of the 22nd panzer division on the eastern front. In the desperate winter fighting of 1942-43 near army group don his kampfgruppe conducted aggressive counterattacks that helped delay soviet encirclement efforts connected to stalingrad destroying hundreds of enemy tanks and guns despite heavy losses. On 1 january 1943 he was awarded the knight's cross of the iron cross as an oberst. He later commanded panzer-regiment 11 with the 6th panzer division and earned the german cross in gold in august 1943 before being wounded.

In 1944 von oppeln-bronikowski took command of panzer-regiment 22 within the 21st panzer division stationed in normandy. On 6 june he led immediate counterattacks against the allied landings pushing some elements toward the coast although superior numbers and air power forced withdrawals. His regiment held defensive lines around caen for roughly a month under intense pressure. For these actions he received the oak leaves to the knight's cross on 28 july 1944 as the 536th recipient. Described by contemporaries as exuberant and dashing he was known for his frontline leadership style though occasional tensions with superiors arose linked to his personal habits including drinking.

By late 1944 he prepared to assume command of the 20th panzer division on the eastern front. Promoted to generalmajor with effect from 1 january 1945 he led the division during the final defensive battles in silesia. His forces conducted counterattacks near the oder river defended neisse opened a temporary corridor toward breslau and relieved encircled troops at bautzen freeing around 1 200 soldiers. For his leadership in these actions he was awarded the swords to the knight's cross with oak leaves on 17 april 1945 as the 142nd recipient. On 8 may 1945 upon hearing of the unconditional surrender he dissolved the division in orderly fashion allowing small groups to attempt breakout toward american lines. He was taken prisoner shortly afterward and after interrogation and a period of internment was released in 1947 classified as innocent.

After the war von oppeln-bronikowski worked as a civil engineering consultant and participated in early planning for the reconstruction of the west german bundeswehr. He remained active in equestrian circles serving as a riding instructor and helping prepare the canadian dressage team for the 1964 tokyo olympics. He was also interviewed by author cornelius ryan during research for the book the longest day. Hermann von oppeln-bronikowski died of a heart attack on 19 september 1966 in gaissach bavaria at the age of 67. He was survived by his wife edelgard von kleist whom he had married in 1931 and their three children. His career bridged the old prussian cavalry tradition olympic achievement and the mechanized battles of the second world war marking him as one of the more colorful and capable panzer leaders of his generation.

Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_von_Oppeln-Bronikowski
https://gmic.co.uk/topic/85662-oppeln-bronikowski-hermann-von/
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/12987/Oppeln-Bronikowski-von-Hermann-Leopold-August.htm
https://ww2colorfarbe.blogspot.com/2015/10/generalmajor-hermann-von-oppeln.html
https://www.walter-frentz-collection.de/fotoarchiv/personenarchiv-a-z/personen-n-r/

Bio of General der Panzertruppe Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma (1891-1948)

Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma was born in Dachau in 1891. He was the son of a Bavarian tax official and became a career officer with the Bavarian Army. Thoma took part in the first World War with 3rd Bavarian Infantry Regiment (part of 2nd, then, from 1915, 11th Bavarian Infantry Division) on the Western (1914/15/16/17/18) and Eastern Front (1915/16), the Serbian Campaign (1915) and the Romanian Front in 1916/17. During the Second Battle of the Marne in July 1918 he was captured by French-American forces and became a prisoner of war until September, 1919. He was decorated with the Knight's Cross of the Bavarian Military Max Joseph Order, the highest military decoration for bravery in the Bavarian Army and was awarded the noble title of Ritter.

After the war, Thoma remained in the new German army, the Reichswehr. During the Spanish Civil War, and now a colonel, he commanded the ground element of the Condor Legion, following the German intervention on the side of the Nationalists under by Francisco Franco.

During Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, Thoma led the 17th Panzer Division. He then commanded the 20th Panzer Division in the Battle of Moscow and after. In December 1941, Thoma received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

In September 1942, he was transferred to North Africa to take over command of the Afrika Korps, replacing Walther Nehring, who had been wounded. When Panzer Army Africa commander Stumme died on 24 October during the Second Battle of El Alamein, Thoma took command until Rommel returned on 26 October. On 4 November, Thoma was captured as the Allies pursued the retreating Axis forces.

    "I saw it once with Feldmarschall Brauchitsch, there is a special ground near Kunersdorf [sic] ... they've got these huge things which they've brought up here. ... They've always said they would go 15 km into the stratosphere and then. ... You only aim at an area. ... If one was to ... every few days ... frightful. ... The major there was full of hope--he said 'Wait until next year and the fun will start!"

translation of Thoma speaking to Ludwig Crüwell while prisoners of war, 22 March 1943.
Under British surveillance as POW

On 4 November 1942, Thoma was captured by the British forces and for the remainder of the war he was a prisoner in several senior officer prisoner-of-war camps in Great Britain, including Trent Park, Wilton Park, Grizedale Hall and Island Farm.

Trent Park held high-ranking enemy officers prisoner in comfortable, but secretly monitored, conditions. While there Thoma was recorded speaking to another POW, General Ludwig Crüwell discussing rockets that were being tested at Kummersdorf West, which he had observed while on a visit that also included Field Marshal Walther von Brauchitsch, the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and other technical programme details.

Following his indiscretion, further British reconnaissance flights over Peenemünde in May and June 1943 brought back unmistakable images of rockets at the facility which was developing guided missiles and long-range ballistic missiles better known as the V-1 flying bomb and the V-2 ballistic missile. When reconnaissance and intelligence information regarding the V-2 became convincing, Churchill's War Cabinet directed the first planned raid (Operation Hydra), the attack of Peenemünde in August 1943, as part of Operation Crossbow, the Anglo-American campaign against the Vergeltungswaffe, the German long-range weapons programme.

In late 1945, Waffen-SS commander Kurt Meyer, captured in Belgium in September 1944 while commanding the 12th SS-Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend", arrived at Trent Park and noted that Thoma, the German camp leader, was "...highly thought of by the English. Relations between him and the guards is excellent".

In 1946 Thoma's leg was amputated while he was still in English captivity. He was repatriated later that year. Thoma lived in his hometown of Dachau until his death of a heart attack in 1948.

Churchill's high regard for Thoma is evident from his many later quotations of Thoma's opinions on strategic matters, especially in his book about the war. After Montgomery invited Thoma to dine with him in his private trailer, Churchill remarked: "I sympathize with General von Thoma: Defeated, in captivity and... (long pause for dramatic effect) dinner with Montgomery".

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General der Panzertruppe Wilhelm [Josef] Ritter von Thoma

Born: 1. Sep. 1891 in Dachau / Bayern.
Died: 30. Apr. 1948 in Dachau / Bayern.

Promotions:
23.09.1912 Fahnenjunker
25.01.1913 Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier
20.05.1913 Fähnrich:
01.08.1914 Leutnant (ohne Patent; later granted Patent vom 30.10.1912)
14.12.1917 Oberleutnant (later granted Patent vom 18.04.1917)
01.02.1925 Hauptmann
01.04.1934 Major
01.08.1936 Oberstleutnant
01.04.1938 Oberst (later granted RDA vom 01.10.1936)
01.08.1940 Generalmajor
01.08.1942 Generalleutnant
01.11.1942 General der Panzertruppe (later granted RDA vom 01.11.1942)

Career:
Kommandierender General, Deutschen Afrika Korps: 1. Sep. 1942 - 4. Nov. 1942
General der schnellen Truppen in OKH: 23. May 1942 - 1. Jul. 1942
Kommandeur 20.Panzer-Division: 14. Oct. 1941 -
Kommandeur 6.Panzer-Division: Jun. 1941 - 15. Sep. 1941
Kommandeur 17.Panzer-Brigade: 16. Dec. 1940 -
General der schnellen Truppen in OKH:
Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment 3: 1. Jun. 1939 -
Kommandeur of Panzertruppen of the Legion Condor, Spain:
z.V. der OKH: 23. Sep. 1936 -
Adjutant of bayr.3.Infanterie-Regiment: (5. Jul. 1916)
Commissioned/assigned to bayr.3.Infanterie-Regiment: 2. Aug. 1914 -
Entered service as Fahnenjunker: 23. Sep. 1912

Enemy Captivity:
Taken prisoner by British troops, 4. Nov. 1942. In British POW camps until 19 .

Awards & Decorations:
31.12.1941 Ritterkreuz des Eisernes Kreuzes as Generalmajor and Kdr. 20.Panzer-Division
05.07.1916 Ritterkreuz des bayerische Militär-Max-Josephs-Orden as Leutnant and Adjutant 3.bayer. Infanterie-Regiment "Prinz Karl von Bayern"
00.00.1939 1939 Spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse
00.00.1939 1939 Spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
03.06.1915 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse
17.10.1914 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
16.11.1914 Kgl. Bayer. Militär-Verdienstorden IV. Klasse mit Schwertern
05.04.1916 k.u.k. Österr. Militär-Verdienstkreuz III. Klasse mit Schwertern.
00.00.1939 Deutsche Spanien-Kreuz in Gold mit Schwertern und Brillanten
19.05.1939 Panzertruppenabzeichen der Legion Condor, Sonderanfertigung in Gold
00.00.194_ Panzerkampfabzeichen in Silber
00.00.1918 Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918 in Silber
ca. 1943 Ärmelband “Afrika“
00.00.1935 Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
00.00.193_ Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV. bis I. Klasse
ca. 1939 Medalla de la Campaña de España
ca. 1939 Medalla Militar Individual de España

Notes:
* Son of Eduard Thoma (died 21.11.1899 in Dachau) and his wife Sabine, née Klein (died 04.05.1921 in München).
* Never married.

Source :
"Deutsche Afrikakorps (1941-1943)" by Ricardo Recio Cardona
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Ritter_von_Thoma
https://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRMACHT/HEER/General2/THOMA_WILHELM.html

Fritz Brutscher with Comrade

Fritz Brutscher (14 March 1915 - 15 February 1943) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 22 January 1943 as Leutnant der Reserve and Führer 3.Kompanie / Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 92 / 20.Panzer-Division,

Source :
Denis Daum photo collection