Harald Freiherr von Elverfeldt

Harald Freiherr von Elverfeldt (6 February 1900 – 6 March 1945) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II who commanded the 9th Panzer Division. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

Harald Freiherr von Elverfeldt
Born(1900-02-06)6 February 1900
Hildesheim
Died6 March 1945(1945-03-06) (aged 45)
Cologne
Allegiance German Empire (to 1918)
 Weimar Republic (to 1933)
 Nazi Germany
Service/branchArmy (Wehrmacht)
Years of service1918–45
RankGeneralleutnant (Posthumously)
Commands held9th Panzer Division
Battles/warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Throughout the 1942 and early 1943, Elverfeldt participated in several rear security operation in Belarus operations, Operation Eisvogel (Operation Kingfisher) and Operation Zigeunerbaron (Operation Gypsy Baron). In September 1943 he was promoted to the rank of Generalmajor and served in the Crimea. In September 1944, after the 9th Panzer Division had fought in Normandy, Harald von Elverfeldt was given command of the division and commanded it until December 28, 1944, and then again from February 1945 until he was killed in action in March 1945. Elverfeldt was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 December 1944, and was posthumously awarded Oak Leaves on 23 March 1945, along with a promotion to Generalleutnant.

Decorations
  • Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class (17 April 1919)[1][2]
  • Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (21 December 1934)[2]
  • Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (29 September 1939) & 1st Class (8 October 1939)[2]
  • German Cross in Gold on 16 March 1942 as Oberstleutnant im Generalstab (in the General Staff) of General-Kommando LVI. Armeekorps [3]
  • Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
    • Knight's Cross on 9 December 1944 as Generalmajor and leader of the 9th Panzer-Division[4]
    • 801st Oak Leaves on 23 March 1945 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 9th Panzer-Division[4]

References

Citations
  1. Thomas 1997, p. 153.
  2. Wegmann 2004, p. 375.
  3. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 102.
  4. Scherzer 2007, p. 293.

Bibliography
  • Mitcham, Samuel W. Jr. 2008."Panzer Commanders of the Western Front:German Tank Generals in WWII". Mechanicsburg PA, USA.StackPole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3507-0.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Wegmann, Günter (2004). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil VIIIa: Panzertruppe Band 1: A–E [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part VIIIa: Panzer Force Volume 1: A–E] (in German). Bissendorf, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2322-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Military offices
Preceded by
Generalmajor Gerhard Müller		 Commander of 9th Panzer Division
16 September 1944 – 28 December 1944		 Succeeded by
Generalmajor Friedrich Wilhelm von Mellenthin
Preceded by
Generalmajor Friedrich Wilhelm von Mellenthin		 Commander of 9th Panzer Division
February 1945 – 6 March 1945		 Succeeded by
Oberst Helmut Zollenkopf
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