Erpo from Bodenhausen

Erpo Kraft Bodo Ernst Gustav Wilke Freiherr von Bodenhausen (born April 12, 1897 in Arnstein Castle , Witzenhausen district ; † May 9, 1945 near Grobin ) was a German lieutenant general in World War II .

Life

After the outbreak of the First World War, Bodenhausen entered the Prussian Army No. 5 as a flagjunker in the "Freiherr von Manteuffel" (Rheinisches) No. 5 dragoons regiment . On April 20, 1915, he joined the mobile regiment in the field, was subsequently deployed on the Eastern Front and promoted to lieutenant on July 5, 1915 . Until the end of the war he was employed as a platoon leader and orderly officer . In addition to both classes of the Iron Cross, he also received the Wound Badge in black for his achievements .

After the armistice of Compiègne and the demobilization of his regiment, Bodenhausen joined the volunteer squadron formed from it in mid-April 1919 . At the end of August 1919, he was accepted into the provisional Reichswehr and assigned to the staff of Group Command 2 as an auxiliary officer. This was followed by a use in the Reichswehr Cavalry Regiment 11 from December 3, 1919, which went up on April 1, 1920 in the 16 Reiter Regiment . From October 1, 1924 to January 31, 1926 Bodenhausen was an orderly officer with the regimental staff. In the meantime promoted to first lieutenant on July 31, 1925 with seniority from April 1, 1925 , he was then appointed regimental adjutant. At the same time, he was ordered from October 1, 1926 to February 20, 1927 to attend the officers' weapons training course in Dresden . On June 1, 1928, Bodenhausen was released from his position as regimental adjutant and joined the 1st (Prussian) artillery regiment . This was followed four months later by his command to train as a guide assistant with the staff of the 7th (Bavarian) Division in Munich . On October 1, 1930, he returned to the 16th Cavalry Regiment. On March 20, 1931 he was assigned to the staff of the 3rd Cavalry Division in Weimar and was transferred to the staff on April 1, 1931. On September 1, 1931, he was as an aide to the Army personnel office in the Defense Ministry to Berlin added, and there on December 1, 1931 Captain transported. On September 1, 1933, he was appointed chief of the training squadron of the 13th (Prussian) cavalry regiment in Hanover . On October 15, 1935, he was appointed chief of the 2nd Squadron in the 13th Cavalry Regiment. On March 1, 1936, he was promoted to major . In mid-May 1936 Bodenhausen was an adjutant at the headquarters of the 12th Infantry Division in Schwerin . On October 6, 1936, he was transferred back to the 13th Cavalry Regiment. On November 10, 1938 he was appointed commander of the 2nd division of the 8th Cavalry Rifle Regiment in Cottbus and promoted to lieutenant colonel on April 1, 1939 .

At the beginning of the Second World War he then led his department in the summer of 1939 during the invasion of Poland . He was awarded the Iron Cross repeat clasps. After the regiment was reclassified, he was appointed commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 8th Rifle Regiment on April 1, 1940. Shortly afterwards, in the spring of 1940, he led his battalion into the western campaign . In mid-December 1940 he was appointed commander of the 28th Rifle Regiment. In the spring of 1941 he then led his regiment into the Balkan campaign . In the summer of 1941 he then led the regiment in the Russian campaign during the attack on northern Russia. In the fall of 1941 he was wounded. On December 17, 1941, he was promoted to colonel . The seniority was set on January 1, 1941. On January 3, 1942, he was awarded the German Cross in Gold. At the end of May 1942 he gave up command of the 28th Rifle Regiment and was appointed commander of the 23rd Rifle Brigade. By renaming the brigade, he was appointed commander of the 23rd Panzer Grenadier Brigade in early July 1942. At the beginning of November 1942 he gave up his command and was transferred to the Führerreserve . At the beginning of January 1943 he was appointed course leader at the regimental leadership school for rapid troops at the armored troop school in Wünsdorf. On March 1, 1943, he came to the headquarters of the 12th Panzer Division as a leader . There, after a few days, he was assigned to lead the 12th Panzer Division in the central section of the Eastern Front. On April 20, 1943, he was promoted to major general. His seniority was set on May 1, 1943. On that day he was also assigned to lead the 12th Panzer Division in the central section of the Eastern Front. On May 1, 1943, he was appointed commander of the 12th Panzer Division. In early November 1943 he was promoted to lieutenant general. His seniority was set on November 1, 1943. On December 17, 1943, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross . He then led the division in Courland until the spring of 1945. On February 18, 1944, he was mentioned with praise in the Wehrmacht report: "In this room, the Pomeranian 12th Panzer Division under the leadership of Lieutenant General Freiherr von Bodenhausen has particularly proven itself." On December 28, 1944, he was again named in the additions to the Wehrmacht report: "In the hard battles of the third battle of Courland, the North German 225th Infantry Division under the leadership of Lieutenant General Risse and the Pomeranian 12th Panzer Division under the leadership of Lieutenant General Freiherr von Bodenhausen distinguished themselves with outstanding steadfastness." At the same time, Bodenhausen was commissioned with the Leadership of the L. Army Corps . After the surrender of the Courland Pocket enclosed corps he committed on 9 May 1945. Suicide to a capture by the Red Army forestall.

literature

Dermot Bradley (ed.), Karl-Friedrich Hildebrand, Markus Rövekamp: The Generals of the Army 1921–1945. The military careers of the generals, as well as the doctors, veterinarians, intendants, judges and ministerial officials with the rank of general. Volume 2: v. Blanckensee – v. Czettritz and Neuhauß. Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1993, ISBN 3-7648-2424-7 , pp. 54-55.

Individual evidence

↑ Reichswehr Ministry (Ed.): Ranking list of the German Reichsheeres. ES Mittler & Sohn , Berlin 1924, p. 186.
↑ ^a ^b Veit Scherzer : Knight's Cross bearer 1939–1945. The holders of the Iron Cross of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and armed forces allied with Germany according to the documents of the Federal Archives. 2nd Edition. Scherzers Militaer-Verlag, Ranis / Jena 2007, ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2 , p. 228.
^ The Wehrmacht reports 1939–1945. Volume 3: January 1, 1944 to May 9, 1945. Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1982, p. 38.
^ The Wehrmacht reports 1939–1945. Volume 3: January 1, 1944 to May 9, 1945. Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1982, p. 383.
^ Samuel W. Mitcham : The Panzer Legions. A Guide to the German Army Tank Divisions of World War II and Their Commanders. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2001 ISBN 9780313316401 , p. 111.

personal data
SURNAME	Bodenhausen, Erpo from
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Bodenhausen, Erpo Kraft Bodo Ernst Gustav Wilke Freiherr von (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	German Lieutenant General in World War II
DATE OF BIRTH	April 12, 1897
PLACE OF BIRTH	Arnstein Castle , Witzenhausen district
DATE OF DEATH	May 9, 1945
Place of death	at Grobin

[Rangliste1924-1] Reichswehr Ministry (Ed.): Ranking list of the German Reichsheeres. ES Mittler & Sohn , Berlin 1924, p. 186.

[Scherzer-2] Veit Scherzer : Knight's Cross bearer 1939–1945. The holders of the Iron Cross of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and armed forces allied with Germany according to the documents of the Federal Archives. 2nd Edition. Scherzers Militaer-Verlag, Ranis / Jena 2007, ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2 , p. 228.

[3] The Wehrmacht reports 1939–1945. Volume 3: January 1, 1944 to May 9, 1945. Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1982, p. 38.

[4] The Wehrmacht reports 1939–1945. Volume 3: January 1, 1944 to May 9, 1945. Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1982, p. 383.

[5] Samuel W. Mitcham : The Panzer Legions. A Guide to the German Army Tank Divisions of World War II and Their Commanders. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2001 ISBN 9780313316401 , p. 111.