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Ewert, Wolf (Generalmajor)

Date of birth:
July 31st, 1905 (Stralsund/Pommerania, Germany)
Date of death:
March 16th, 1994 (Bad Nauheim/Hesse, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Wolf Ewert finally reached the rank of Generalmajor.

01.04.1926: Obergrenadier
01.10.1926: Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter
01.11.1926: Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier
01.09.1927: Fähnrich
01.08.1928: Oberfähnrich
01.07.1929: Leutnant
01.04.1933: Oberleutnant
01.08.1936: Hauptmann
01.06.1941: Major
30.04.1943: Oberstleutnant
20.08.1944: Oberst
01.03.1945: Generalmajor


Wolf Ewert joined the King Friedrich I (4th East Prussian) No. 5 grenadier regiment on January 1, 1921 as a rifleman November 1926 was promoted to Fahnenjunker NCO. This was followed by promotions to ensign on September 1, 1927, to senior ensign on August 1, 1928, to lieutenant on July 1, 1929 and to first lieutenant on April 1, 1933. From October 1, 1934, he was adjutant of the 2nd Battalion of the Döberitz Infantry Regiment (from October 15, 1935, 48th Infantry Regiment). Promoted to captain on August 1, 1936, he became chief of the 8th Company of the Berlin Guard on October 6, 1936, and of the Berlin Guard Regiment from June 23, 1937. From April 14, 1939 he was company commander in the Greater Germany Infantry Regiment. On January 5, 1940 he was then chief of the 1st company of the infantry replacement battalion (mot) 99 and on June 7, 1940 commander of the 1st battalion of the 196 infantry regiment. On June 1, 1941, he was promoted to major Ewert was entrusted with the command of the 196 Grenadier Regiment on December 1, 1942, and became its commander on April 1, 1943. On April 30, 1943, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. and on October 4, 1943, he was transferred to the Führerreserve. On February 1, 1944, he was commander of the 274 Grenadier Regiment and promoted to colonel on August 20, 1944. Relocated to the Führerreserve on September 3, 1944, Ewert became commander of the infantry field sergeant school in Arys on September 18, 1944. From November 1944 he was then inspector of the training of troops on the right bank of the Rhine with the Upper Rhine Army Group. On December 30, 1944 he took over the leadership of the 716th Infantry Division and on January 18, 1945 that of the 338th Infantry Division, of which he became the last commander on March 1, 1945. On April 15, 1945 he was taken prisoner by the United States, from which he was released on July 15, 1947.

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Awarded on:
1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
Awarded on:
1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  3.Klasse, 12 Jahre
Awarded on:
1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:
Kdr, Grenadier-Regiment 196, 68.Infanterie- Division
Awarded on:
November 1st, 1943
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Grenadier-Regiment 274, 94.Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
July 18th, 1944
The following report from 1944 describes why Ewert would be awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“The Knight’s Cross for Oberst Ewert:

As commander of a Saxonian Infanterie-Regiment, Oberstleutnant (by now promoted to Oberst) Ewert would repeatedly distinguish himself through his bravery during the hard defensive battle at the Gulf of Gaeta from the very first days of the fighting.

But above all there was a particular combat action in which his name must be mentioned, the defensive battle of Perugia.

This city, located at the edge of the Tiber valley, was originally only intended to be defended for one day. However when the wider situation necessitated a multi-day defense, it was Oberstleutnant Ewert who was the soul of the defense by any measure. On the first day of the fighting, the 17.06.1944, he and his troops succeeded in fending off all probes of the enemy from a distance some ways to the south of the city. When the spearhead of an English Armoured Division advanced forwards along almost all the roads into the city on the 18.06.1944, he smashed all enemy attacks by skillfully employing his subordinated artillery and 2 Pak guns. 7 enemy tanks remained destroyed or burning on the battlefield in the aftermath.

The first crisis took place on the evening of the same day. Utilizing the cover of the gathering darkness, and guided by partisans, hostile tanks entered into the southern suburb of the city and threatened to collapse the entire defense. Oberstleutnant Ewert clearly recognized the danger. Acting with lightning speed, he ordered the preprepared barriers to be set up. By using the last reserves he managed to seal off the penetration in the pitch black night.

He commenced a counterthrust early on the 19.06.1944. After destroying several enemy tanks he brought in a few prisoners with important papers. Among these prisoners was a nephew of the English king. The smashing of this particular thrust took place just before the attack of the main enemy forces, which attempted to break into the city from the west and east. Oberstleutnant Ewert was now outflanked on both sides and, to make matters worse, threatened by partisans in the rear. He decided that all forces in the southern part of Perugia were to remain where they stood. He meanwhile decided to subordinate the divisional reserve located north of the city, and with this force he launched a decisive counterthrust. He directed the individual squads from the foremost line and personally guided the fire of the artillery. By swiftly moving around the available anti-tank weapons he mastered this extremely critical situation and saved the right neighbouring regiment from encirclement. The enemy for their part took heed of the defenders after sustaining heavy losses.

The holding of Perugia was of decisive importance for the overall combat situation. It enabled the withdrawal of friendly forces to the next defensive line. Oberstleutnant Ewert had achieved this commendable military performance along a wide front with a small force of only 500 men. For the great and far-reaching victory he brought about, as well as the superb leadership and initiative he displayed in the process, Oberstleutnant Ewert would be awarded the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

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