TracesOfWar needs your help! Every euro, pound or dollar you contribute greatly supports the continuation of this website. Go to stiwot.nl and donate!

Meiners, Ernst

Date of birth:
June 13th, 1893 (Berlin, Germany)
Date of death:
June 11th, 1959 (Stuttgart, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
?: Hauptmann der Reserve;
?: Major der Reserve;
1st January 1942: Oberstleutnant der Reserve;
1st December 1942: Oberst der Reserve;
1st October 1944: Generalmajor der Reserve.

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst der Reserve (Colonel of Reserves)
Unit:
Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 161 / 81. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
January 25th, 1943
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst der Reserve (Colonel of Reserves)
Unit:
Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 161 / 81. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
December 17th, 1943
The following excerpt from the 977th edition of the 16. Armee’s field newspaper describes why Oberst Meiners would be awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“The assault against Hill 204 will be forever remembered as one of the hardest days of the Regiment. From here the Soviets were able to dominate an important railway line along with two major supply roads with their artillery. Oberst Meiners developed an attack plan and ruthlessly put it into reality. An initially local operation developed into a major assault. Oberst Meiners stormed forwards past the first hill on his own initiative with his Grenadiers against a decisive piece of high ground. The actual attack objective was reached in one hour. Two enemy divisions were smashed.

On the evening of the third day of the German counterattack a fateful order was received: The Regiment had to storm Hill 188.3. For two days all attacks against this hill failed. However the main group commanded by Meiners himself managed to also achieve this order through the skillful use of the forces available in the bitter fighting. This success significantly contributed to the frustrating of the Soviets’ intended breakthrough.

When Oberst Meiners was awarded the Knight’s Cross by the Führer the entire Regiment was overjoyed along with him. They knew that the achievements of the whole Regiment had been honoured through the person of their commander.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalmajor der Reserve (Brigadier)
Unit:
Kommandeur 547.Volksgrenadier-Division
Awarded on:
February 5th, 1945
Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS

Sources

Photo