Original Color Photograph of Erich Abraham by Walter Frentz

Generalleutnant Erich Abraham (Kommandeur 76. Infanterie-Division) in a picture taken in July 1944 by Walter Frentz, during Eichenlaub award ceremony with Hitler at Berghof. Previously, in early April 1944, during the chaotic German withdrawal amid the Soviet Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive on the southern Eastern Front northwest of Odessa, Generalleutnant Erich Abraham, as commander of the reinforced 76. Infanterie-Division under XXIX. Armeekorps of Heeresgruppe Südukraine, distinguished himself by orchestrating a critical counter-maneuver that secured the 516th award of the Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 26 June 1944. Facing relentless Red Army pressure as German forces fought their way westward through Soviet formations, Abraham directed his division in a determined thrust to establish and hold a bridgehead on the eastern bank of the Latka River, creating a vital corridor that enabled thousands of retreating troops, vehicles, and equipment to cross safely despite heavy enemy opposition. Under his personal leadership and tactical acumen, the reinforced division not only seized the crossing point against superior Soviet numbers and firepower but maintained the bridgehead open for an extended period through tenacious defensive fighting, repelling repeated assaults and preventing encirclement of larger withdrawing elements from Army Group South. This decisive feat stabilized a collapsing sector, bought precious time for the overall retreat, and exemplified outstanding command under extreme duress, directly contributing to the preservation of combat-effective forces in the face of the Red Army's spring offensive.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=1438855#p1438855
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/1227/Abraham-Erich-Gottfried.htm
https://www.walter-frentz-collection.de/fotoarchiv/personenarchiv-a-z/personen-a-b/#&gid=1&pid=1

Bio of General der Infanterie Erich Abraham

 

Erich Abraham (27 March 1895 – 7 March 1971) was born in Marienburg, East Prussia in 1895. He volunteered for military service after the outbreak of World War I and the following year was commissioned as a Leutnant der Reserve. He was demobilised in 1920 as an honorary Oberleutnant, and joined the police. He returned to military service in 1935 in the rank of Major. He commanded an infantry battalion in the 105th Infantry Regiment in 1936–39, being promoted to Oberstleutnant in 1938. In 1939, he was transferred to the 266th Infantry Regiment, again commanding a battalion for a year. In 1940 he was appointed as the commanding officer of the 230th Infantry Regiment, and in 1941 was promoted to Oberst, continuing in command of that regiment until 1942. During his time in command of the 230th Infantry Regiment, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes.

On 17 February 1943 he was appointed to command the 76th Infantry Division which was being rebuilt in France after the original division had been destroyed at Stalingrad. He was promoted to Generalmajor on 1 June 1943, after which he led the division initially to Italy before being moved to Army Group South on the Eastern Front during the winter of 1943–44. On 1 January 1944, Abraham was promoted to Generalleutnant. He continued to command the division in heavy fighting and during the withdrawal in the face of the Red Army Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive, and other than for a short time in July–August, commanded the division until October 1944. While commanding the division, he was awarded the Eichenlaub to his Ritterkreuz. Later that year he was appointed to command LXIII Corps. In March 1945 he was promoted to General der Infanterie. Captured at the end of the war, he was released in August 1947. After release he lived in Wiesbaden, West Germany. He died in 1971.

Awards
Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class (2 September 1915) & 1st Class (27 June 1917)
Austrian Military Merit Cross 3rd Class with War Decoration (20 March 1917)
Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (1 December 1934)
Wehrmacht Long Service Award 2nd Class (2 October 1936)
Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (10 March 1940) & 1st Class (21 June 1940)
Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown (Romania, 22 June 1942)
Infantry Assault Badge (13 November 1942)
German Cross in Gold on 7 March 1942 as Oberst and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 230
Knight's Cross on 13 November 1942 as Oberst and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 230
516th Oak Leaves on 26 June 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 76. Infanterie-Division

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2010/03/daftar-general-der-infanterie-heer.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Abraham

Karteikarte of General der Infanterie Erich Abraham

Source:
National Archives (NARA) - T78 R883 roll