Traugott Herr

German general From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Traugott Johannes Gustav Otto Herr (16 September 1890 – 13 April 1976) was a German general during World War II who commanded the 14th Army and the 10th Army of the Wehrmacht. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.

Born(1890-09-16)16 September 1890
Weferlingen, Kreis Gardelegen, Regierungsbezirk Magdeburg, Province of Saxony, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died13 April 1976(1976-04-13) (aged 85)
Achterwehr, Schleswig-Holstein, West Germany
Allegiance Kingdom of Prussia
German Empire
Weimar Republic
Nazi Germany
Branch Imperial German Army
 Reichsheer
 German Army
Quick facts Born, Died ...
Traugott Herr
Born(1890-09-16)16 September 1890
Weferlingen, Kreis Gardelegen, Regierungsbezirk Magdeburg, Province of Saxony, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died13 April 1976(1976-04-13) (aged 85)
Achterwehr, Schleswig-Holstein, West Germany
Allegiance Kingdom of Prussia
German Empire
Weimar Republic
Nazi Germany
Branch Imperial German Army
 Reichsheer
 German Army
Service years1911–1945
RankGeneral der Panzertruppe
CommandsInfantry/Rifle Regiment 66
13th Rifle Brigade
13th Panzer Division
LXXVI Panzer Corps
14th Army
10th Army
ConflictsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
Relations∞ 1916 Grete Paris; 4 children
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Life

Born in 1890, Herr joined the Fusilier Regiment Prince Henry of Prussia (Brandenburg) No. 35 of the Prussian Army on 18 April 1911 as a Fahnenjunker (officer candidate) in the infantry. During the First World War, he served as battalion adjutant, regimental adjutant, and company leader. He was wounded on 31 August 1916 and returned to active duty in January 1917.

He served again in the Reichswehr as adjutant, as company commander, and at the infantry school and the war school in Dresden. Serving in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany in the late 1930s, he commanded the 3rd Battalion of the 33rd Infantry Regiment.[1]

World War II

Herr commanded an infantry regiment, part of the 13th Motorized Infantry Division, from 8 September 1939 to 14 October 1940, taking part in the Invasion of Poland (September 1939) and France (May 1940 to October 1940).[2] In October 1940, the division was reformed in Vienna as 13th Panzer Division.[2] Herr was given command of 13th Rifle Brigade, which controlled the division's two infantry regiments, on 14 October 1940.[3][need quotation to verify]

In the invasion of Poland, the division used civilians as human shields in the battle with the retreating Polish Prusy Army and on 8 September 1939 attacked a medical column marked with the Red Cross signs near Odrzywół. A day later, soldiers from the division took part in the revenge killing of eleven civilians and two Polish priests including Dean Stanisław Klimecki in the nearby town of Drzewica in retaliation for their own military losses. Killings have also been reported in nearby settlements of Gielniów, Kamienna Wola, Klwów, Ossa, Przysucha, Potok, Rozwady and Zarzęcin. It is not known whether Herr participated in these crimes.

In May 1941, the regiment returned to Germany to take part in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, as part of 1st Panzergruppe under Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist in Army Group South.[2] In December 1941, Herr was given acting command of 13th Panzer Division.[2]

On 31 October 1942, on the Terek River deep in the Caucasus,[3] Herr suffered a serious head wound, being struck by shrapnel, and was repatriated to Germany to recuperate.[2] He was later appointed commander of the LXXVI Panzer Corps stationed in France; in August 1943 it was sent to Italy. In Italy, his unit faced the British Eighth Army in Calabria, and the U.S. Fifth Army in Salerno.[2]

Herr commanded the corps in the Italian Campaign until 24 November 1944. He also temporarily took command of 14th Army for a brief period from late November to mid-December 1944. On 18 December 1944, he was awarded the Swords to the Knight's Cross. On 15 February 1945, he took command of 10th Army.[4] The Allies final and decisive spring 1945 offensive in Italy opened in early April, Herr was defending the Adriatic sector with orders to hold the lines. On 2 May 1945, Army Group C under, including the 10th and 14th Armies, surrendered, thus ending the fighting, and General Herr was taken prisoner of war.[2] He was repatriated in May 1948.

Promotions

  • 18 April 1911 Fahnenjunker (Officer Candidate)
  • 9 August 1911 Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier (Officer Candidate with Corporal/NCO/Junior Sergeant rank)
  • 19 December 1911 Fähnrich (Officer Cadet)
  • 18 August 1912 Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
  • 28 November 1917 Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
  • 5 January 1926 Hauptmann (Captain) with effect and Rank Seniority (RDA) from 1 January 1926 (7)
  • 1 June 1934 Major (22)
  • 2 October 1936 Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) with effect and RDA from 1 October 1936 (61)
  • 31 July 1939 Oberst (Colonel) with effect and RDA from 1 August 1939 (32)
    • 17 December 1941 received new and improved RDA from 1 April 1938 (12a)
  • 16 March 1942 Generalmajor (Major General) with effect and RDA from 1 April 1942 (16)
  • 15 February 1943 Generalleutnant (Lieutenant General) with effect and RDA from 1 December 1942 (19a)
  • 8 September 1943 General der Panzertruppe with effect and RDA from 1 September 1943 (3)

Awards and decorations

Sources

References

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