Tolsdorff, Theodor

Date of birth:: November 3rd, 1909 (Lehnarten/Eastern-Prussia, Germany)
Date of death:: May 25th, 1978 (Barmen/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

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Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: September 22nd, 1939

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: October 23rd, 1939

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:: Chef 14. / Infanterie-Regiment 22 / 1.Infanterie-Division / I.Armee-Korps / 16.Armee / Heeresgruppe Nord
Awarded on:: December 4th, 1941

On the 21.11.1941, when Tolsdorff was acting commander of the II./Infanterie-Regiment 22, the Soviets (fighting from the Vyborgsskaja bridgehead) made a dangerous breakthrough in the Bataillon’s main defensive line. Scraping together a reserve Kompanie made up of drivers and communications troops from the Bataillon staff, Tolsdorff led a counterattack against this penetration. Despite being wounded three times he and his force succeeded in regaining the line. For this Tolsdorff was awarded the Knight's Cross.

700th Award.

Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:: I. / Infanterie-Regiment 22
Awarded on:: August 23rd, 1942

Award 166/4

Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Major
Unit:: Kommandeur I. / Füsilier-Regiment 22 / 1.Infanterie-Division / XXVI.Armee-Korps / 18.Armee / Heeresgruppe Nord
Awarded on:: September 15th, 1943

During the Third Battle of Lake Ladoga (22.07.-23.08.1943), taking place on both sides of the Kirov railway, Tolsdorff and his Bataillon were assigned a section of line to defend. They not only succeeding in holding their own positions for 14 days, but also managed to throw back Soviet forces that broke through in the neighbouring one. In all these battles Tolsdorff led from the front in both offense and defense. For these actions he was awarded the Oakleaves to his Knight's Cross.

302nd Award.

Wehrmachtbericht

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: July 14th, 1944

The brave garrison of the old Lithuanian capital Vilnius, led by their commander Stahel under orders broke through the Soviet encirclement after five days of resistance against superior enemy forces and fought through to the in the west waiting German troops under the command of Colonel Tolsdorf (sic). Duty and steadfastness of these combat troops deserve the highest recognition. In this battle for the city a Luftwaffe flak unit under command of Captain Müller has also distinguished itself.

Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberstleutnant
Unit:: Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 1067 (Heerestruppe)
Awarded on:: July 18th, 1944

During the Soviet operation Bagration, Tolsdorff took over command of a scratch force of alert and leave companies, Grenadier-Regiment 1067. He was first ordered to break through to the garrison at Vilnius, which he succeeded in doing (on the way rescuing a German field hospital with 3,000 wounded men). He then took part in the city's defense, later breaking out with other units when a narrow corridor had been created by German relief forces. He and his men had distinguished themselves during the time they defended the city, so much so that Tolsdorff was christened "The Lion of Vilnius" by German propaganda. For his actions here he received the Swords to his Knight's Cross.

80th Award.

Ritterkreuz, Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Generalmajor
Unit:: Kommandeur 340.Volks-Grenadier-Division / Heeresgruppe B
Awarded on:: March 18th, 1945

Awarded for the excellent leadership of his division during the battle of the Bulge (where it successfully seized and held a river crossing), and later during the retreat through the Eifel region.

25th Award.

Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Silver version

Panzervernichtungsabzeichen in Silber

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Sources

Photo 1: Wilco Vermeer
Photo: Wilco Vermeer collection, the Netherlands
- THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1998.
- Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
- Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
- Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
- Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X
- Lexikon der Wehrmacht
- Wehrmacht Awards.com