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Müller, von, Dietrich (Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5)

    Date of birth:
    September 16th, 1891 (Malchow/Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany)
    Date of death:
    January 3rd, 1961 (Hamburg, Germany)
    Nationality:
    German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

    Biography

    Dietrich von Müller entered military service voluntarily in 1910 and was posted to Jäger-Regiment 3. After an employment of one year, he joined the Landwirtschaft.
    At the outbreak of World War One, he was called in to Jäger-Regiment 3 as Fähnrich der Reserve (Cadet Reserve). Later in the war he became Leutnant of the Stab Landwehr-Inspizienten. (Home Defence Inspection?)
    After the end of the first World War, von Müller started studying agricultural science. He enrolled in the Wehrmacht in 1934 and was posted to Infanterie-Regiment 5 with the rank of Hauptmann.
    At the outbreak of World War Two, he served as Major and Chef II./Infanterie-Regiment 5. With this unit he took part in the campaigns against Poland and France; after the latter the unit was renamed Schützen-Regiment 5. From September 5th, 1941 onwards, he served as Kommandeur of this unit. July 10th, 1942, Müller’s regiment was transformed into Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5. After having been awarded the Eichenlaub, von Müller was made Leiter der taktischen Lehrgänge (head of tactical courses) on the Panzertruppenschule II (School for Armored troops) in Krampnitz. In addition he was posted to the Abteilungsführerschule (School of Department Leaders) in Paris and to the Stab des Inspekteurs der Panzerwaffe (Staff of the Inspector of Armored troops). In 1944 he was named Kommandeur 16.Panzer-Division.
    On April 19th, 1945, Dietrich von Müller was made a prisoner of war by the Soviets after having been captured by Czech partizans. He was released from captivity in 1955.

    Promotions:
    ?: Fähnrich der Reserve;
    ?: Leutnant;
    ?: Hauptmann;
    April 1st, 1941: Oberstleutnant;
    1942: Oberst;
    November 9th, 1944: Generalmajor;
    ?: Generalleutnant.

    Career:
    1910: Jäger-Regiment 3;
    ?: Landwirtschaft;
    1914: Jäger-Regiment 3;
    ?: Stab Landwehr-Inspizienten;
    1934: Infanterie-Regiment 5;
    1939: Chef II. / Infanterie-Regiment 5;
    ?: Chef II. / Schützen-Regiment 5;
    September 5th, 1941: Kommandeur Schützen-Regiment 5;
    July 10th, 1942: Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5;
    ?: Leiter der Taktischen Lehrgänge, Panzertruppenschule II, Krampnitz;
    ?: Abteilungsführerschule, Parijs;
    ?: Stab des Inspekteurs der Panzerwaffe;
    August 14th, 1944 - March 1945: Kommandeur 16. Panzer-Division;
    April 19th, 1945: Prisoner of war;
    1955: Release

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    September 19th, 1939

    Had already received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 2nd October 1914.
    1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    October 31st, 1939

    Had already received the Iron Cross 1st Class on 19th August 1916.
    1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
    Unit:
    Schützen-Regiment 5
    Awarded on:
    February 21st, 1942

    Award 75/15.
    Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
    Unit:
    Kommandeur Schützen-Regiment 5 / 269. Infanterie-Division / XXVIII.Armee-Korps / 18.Armee / Heeresgruppe Nord
    Awarded on:
    May 3rd, 1942
    Awarded for his defensive success near Pogostje on 16.02.1942. Here Müller managed to salvage a critical situation, resulting in a victory for his Regiment against an overwhelming Soviet force supported by 43 tanks. By preventing a hostile breakthrough here Müller averted an extremely dangerous outcome not just for the Division, but also the whole Korps.

    982nd Award.
    Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberst (Colonel)
    Unit:
    Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5 / 12. Panzer-Division / 2.Panzer-Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte
    Awarded on:
    August 16th, 1943
    Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
    Awarded for the leadership of his Regiment during the intervention of the 12. Panzer-Division against a Soviet penetration in the sector of the 208. Infanterie-Division (east of Bolchoff) during the time period 13-20.07.1943. Müller’s skills played a major role in the success of his Regiment in stabilizing the frontline here despite the heavy and bloody fighting. His primary accomplishments are outlined in the following chronology…

    14.07.1943: Attack of the Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5 astride the Asarowo-Kornilowo road.

    16.07.1943: The I./Pz.Gr.Rgt. 5 is encircled. Oberst von Müller manages to break through the encirclement ring with 2 Panzer IVs and an armoured car, and thereafter brings the Bataillon back into the main German frontline.

    18.07.1943: 9 Soviet attacks are repulsed.

    272nd Award.
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Generalmajor
    Unit:
    Kommandeur 16. Panzer-Division
    Awarded on:
    February 20th, 1945
    Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern
    Awarded for the leadership of the 16. Panzer-Division during the Soviet winter offensive of early 1945. His Division was first encircled south of Kielce but managed to break out to friendly lines. Encircled a second time, it broke out again in the area east of Sulejow. It then joined the wandering pocket led by Nehring and helped to spearhead its march back to friendly territory. Kampfgruppe Müller passed through Lissa and finally reached the Oder at Glogau on 27.01.1945. Müller was recognized for the role his troops had played in the successful breakout of the entire Korps.

    134th Award.

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