Hermann von Oppeln-Bronikowski

Hermann von Oppeln-Bronikowski (2 January 1899 – 19 September 1966) was an Olympic equestrian, winning a Gold Medal in the team dressage at the 1936 Olympics.

Rittmeister

Hermann Leopold August von Oppeln-Bronikowski
Born(1899-01-02)2 January 1899
Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died19 September 1966(1966-09-19) (aged 67)
Gaißach, Bavaria, West Germany
Allegiance German Empire
 Weimar Republic
 Nazi Germany
RankGeneralmajor
Commands held20th Panzer Division
Battles/warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
Sports career
Country Nazi Germany
SportEquestrian
Medal record
Equestrian
Olympic Games
Representing  Germany
1936 BerlinTeam dressage

He won an Iron Cross in 1918 as a lieutenant during World War I.

A panzer general during World War II, in Poland in 1939 and then the Russian Front where he served with distinction, having several panzers shot out from under him and personally leading several ad hoc attacks. He was considered an excellent panzer commander, but had problems with higher authority as he was an excessive drinker. An Oberst commanding the 100th Panzer Division at Falaise, France; he was visited at 8.15 on 11 May 1944 by Rommel, who is satisfied with the forces' defensive preparations, but says to him – You're lazy stinkers, what happens if the enemy invasion begins before 8.30! Von Oppeln (who had gone to sleep in his now crumpled and tobacco-smelling uniform, and still has alcohol on his breath) could only reply Catastrophe and Rommel laughs.[1]

He commanded the 20th Panzer Division and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.

He died of a heart attack in 1966.

Awards
  • Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class (28 May 1918) & 1st Class (14 October 1918)[2]
  • Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (25 September 1939) & 1st Class (10 November 1939)[2]
  • German Cross in Gold on 7 August 1943 as Oberst in Panzer-Regiment 11[3]
  • Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
    • Knight's Cross on 1 January 1943 as Oberst and commander of Panzer-Regiment 204[4]
    • Oak Leaves on 28 July 1944 as Oberst and commander of Panzer-Regiment 22[4]
    • Swords on 17 April 1945 as Generalmajor and commander of the 20. Panzer-Division[4]

References

Citations
  1. Margaritis, Peter (2019). Countdown to D-Day: The German Perspective. PA, USA & Oxford, UK: Casemate. pp. 414–418. ISBN 978-1-61200-769-4.
  2. Thomas 1998, p. 132.
  3. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 338.
  4. Scherzer 2007, p. 578.

Bibliography
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.
Military offices
Preceded by
General der Panzertruppe Mortimer von Kessel		 Commander of 20th Panzer Division
November 6, 1944-May 8, 1945		 Succeeded by
none
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