Date of birth:

March 25th, 1910 (Kutten/Eastern Prussia, Germany)

Date of death:

April 15th, 1967 (Ludwigsburg/Baden-Württemberg, Germany)

Nationality:

German

Promotions:
1930: Fahnenjunker
1931: Fähnrich
1932: Oberfähnrich
1933: Leutnant
1936: Oberleutnant
1940: Hauptmann
1942: Major
1943: Oberstleutnant
1945: Oberst

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 21st, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 27th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Kommandeur I. / Panzer-Regiment 36 / Kampfgruppe von Pannwitz / 14.Panzer-Division / LI. Armee-Korps / 6. Armee-4.Panzer-Armee / Heeresgruppe Don

Awarded on:

November 30th, 1942

Awarded for the following actions, both around Stalingrad in late 1942…

1) Playing a major role in seizing the Stalingrad tractor factory. By the 14.10.1942 his Panzer-Abteilung had already failed in two attempts to break into the southern and middle portions of the factory. Acting on his own initiative, Sauvant decided to launch a penetration attempt against the northern part of the factory from the sector of the neighbouring Division. This succeeded, and created a chain reaction which eventually led to the fall of the factory to the Germans on the following day.

2) Following this he took control of the Kampfgruppe von Pannwitz, consisting of 12 tanks from the repair shop and manned by maintenance crews. With this scratch force, and without waiting for orders, Sauvant destroyed a large portion of the Soviet 61st Cavalry Division on the 26.11.1942 near Scharnutovski. The next day he led this group north of Kotelnikovo into the rear of the Soviet 81st Cavalry Division, again destroying the bulk of this unit.

1345th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

I. / Panzer-Regiment 36

Awarded on:

September 13th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Kommandeur schweren Panzer-Abteilung 505 / XXXXVII.Panzer-Korps / 9.Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte

Awarded on:

July 28th, 1943

During the battle of Kursk, while deployed between the 6. Infanterie and the 9. Panzer-Divisionen, Sauvant was forced to deal with a major Soviet armoured counterattack. With his 10 available Tigers Sauvant took full advantage of the Tiger’s advantages, and with his group was able to eliminate 40 T-34 tanks. For this success Sauvant received the Oakleaves to his Knight’s Cross.

260th Award

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant

Unit:

Panzer-Regiment 36

Awarded on:

May 7th, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 18th, 1940

Silver version.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Silver version.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 28th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 19th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 19th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1938

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

Panzer Regiment 36

Awarded on:

June 15th, 1943

Royal Decree no. 1615

• Photo 1: Andrew Straube
• Photo: Andrew Straube via www.Death-Cards.com
  
• - 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
  - Documents and information via Hermann Historica 48.Auktion catalogue