Oberst Hans Christern (1900-1966), born on 24 January 1900 in Lauenburg and deceased on 17 June 1966 in Georgenhof, was served with distinction from his early days in the German Army through both world wars, ultimately commanding the 7. Panzer-Division in the final months of the conflict before surrendering it to British forces northwest of Berlin in May 1945; after the war he returned to civilian life as a farmer and became active in the CDU political party, even running unsuccessfully in the 1949 West German federal election. His most notable recognition came with the award of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 31 January 1941 as Major and Kommandeur of II./Panzer-Regiment 31 within the 5. Panzer-Division for his extraordinary leadership during the Battle of France, where, following the breakthrough of French border fortifications on 17 May 1940, the Maubeuge Fortress with its heavy guns threatened the right flank and advance of the division; demonstrating bold initiative, Christern led a Panzer thrust directly into the fortress in a daring coup-de-main, overrunning enemy tanks, anti-tank weapons, and infantry to seize the citadel on 18 May 1940, thereby neutralizing flanking fire, preventing the destruction of the vital Sambre bridge, repelling counterattacks, and securing the position for full capitulation with supporting troops, actions that exemplified ruthless courage and enabled continued momentum in the subsequent fighting through Flanders.
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