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Stotten, Hans Günther Paul (Panzer-Regiment 8)

Date of birth:
October 7th, 1916 (Berlin-Charlottenburg/Prussia, Germany)
Date of death:
April 5th, 1945 (Wolfsgraben/Lower Austria, Austria)
Service number:
SS-Nr.: // NSDAP-Nr.:
Nationality:
German

Biography

Hans-Günther Stotten was born on 7th October 1916. From 1921 and onwards he visited the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gymnasium at Hannover, followed by the Realgymnasium and he received a training for horseriding. In Otober 1934 he was placed with the 3. / 12. (Sächsischer) Reiter-Regiment at Grossenhain. From 1937 he attended the Kriegsschule at Hannover and was stationed on 1st January 1938 with thePanzerregiment 3 as a Leutnant. On 4th July 1940 followed his promotion to Oberleutnant. After operations in the Balkan and at the Eastfront he was severely wounded before Moscow. On 1st April 1942 he was placed as a liaissons officer to a Finnish General. On 1st September 1942 hh became Kompaniechef and Abteilungskommandant with the Panzer-Regiment 8 in North Africa. He he was wounded several times and became Führer of the Panzer-Regiment 8. On 1st Juni 1943 he was promoted to Major and attended the Generalstabsausbildung. In January 1944 he commanded a Jäger-Division naer Janina and was afterwards send to the Kriegsakademie in Hirschberg. In August 1944 he was placed with the Generalstab (Ic van de Heeresgruppe Süd). During an attempt to escape Soviet imprisnoment, Hans-Günther Stotten was shot.

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Awarded on:
1938
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
Awarded on:
1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
Awarded on:
1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
Awarded on:
1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938 mit Spange
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 27th, 1939
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 11th, 1939
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

Silver version.
Panzerkampfabzeichen (ohne Zahl)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
Führer, 1. Kompanie, Panzer-Regiment 3, 2. Panzer-Division
Awarded on:
July 4th, 1940
During the fighting in France near Chalons, the 1./Panzer-Regiment 3 succeeded in capturing an enemy battalion with 900 prisoners, numerous machine-guns and three anti-tank guns. Stotten's leadership was largely responsible for this great success. During a separate action, in an intense tank battle, he was able to knock out an enemy 32-ton tank (presumably a Char B1 bis) with his tank's 37mm gun using special ammunition.

For these outstanding successes Stotten received the Knight's Cross.

114th Award.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1941
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Panzer-Regiment 8, 3. Panzer-Division
Awarded on:
March 14th, 1943

Award 331/1.
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Kommandeur, I. Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment 8, Heeresgruppe 'Afrika'
Awarded on:
May 10th, 1943
Awarded for his achievements in the fighting at the Mareth Line and on the opening days of the battle of the Kasserine Pass (19-20.02.1943). In this latter battle he first led his battalion, with support from the Werfer-Regiment 71, into the pass and destroyed many hostile AT guns. Later on, west of Gabes, he repulsed a superior enemy force with just 8 friendly Panzers. 5 enemy tanks were destroyed.

236th Award.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1943
Ärmelband Afrika

Sources

Photo