Date of birth:

July 17th, 1912 (Breslau/Silesia, Germany)

Date of death:

July 11th, 1954 (Hamburg)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Major der Reserve Ernst Edwin Leonhard Hans-Siegfried „Peti" Graf von Rothkirch und Trach

00.03.1944: Hauptmann der Reserve, Chef, 2. Kompanie, I. Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment 31, 5. Panzer-Division
00.10.1944: Hauptmann der Reserve, Kommandeur, I. Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment 26, Panzergrenadier-Division "Großdeutschland"
00.01.1945: Major der Reserve, Führer, I. Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment "Brandenburg", Panzergrenadier-Division Brandenburg

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 16th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

in silver

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Chef, 2. Kompanie, I. Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment 31, 5. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

March 17th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)

Unit:

Kommandeur, I. Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment 26, Panzergrenadier-Division "Großdeutschland", Heer

Awarded on:

October 4th, 1944

On the 17.08.1944, during a German counterattack from Tauroggen in the direction of Schaulen, Hauptmann von Rothkirch und Trach launched a thrust deep into the Soviet positions with only 6 operational Panthers under his command. During this attack his Panzers destroyed 9 Soviet tanks and a large number of anti-tank guns. More than this the strike facilitated the continuation of the advance by the GD-Panzergrenadiers towards Schaulen. For this deed Rothkirch would receive the Knight’s Cross.

I./Pz.Rgt 26 was attached most of the time to "GD" units ; 18. Jan 1945 : renamed -> I./Pz.Rgt Brandenburg.

• Photo 1:
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
  - TEGETHOFF, RALPH, Die Ritterkreuzträger des Panzerkorps Großdeutschland und seiner Schwesterverbände, DS- Vlg. o.J., Riesa, 1998.
  - Axis History Forum via Awardholders / unit
  - das-ritterkreuz.de
  - axishistory.com
  - lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de