Date of birth:

April 9th, 1903 (Munich/Bavaria, Germany)

Date of death:

February 15th, 1945 (Struppin-Pirna/Saxony, Germany)

Buried on:

War Cemetery München
Row: 100. Grave: 14.

Nationality:

German

Generalleutnant Wolf Dietrich Ritter und Edler von Xylander
Was killed in an airplane crash on February 15th, 1945.

Promotions:
September, 01st, 1923: Fähnrich;
October 01st, 1924: Oberfähnrich;
March 01st, 1925: Leutnant - RDA December 01st, 1924 - 1;
February 01st, 1928: Oberleutnant (61);
June 1st, 1934: Hauptmann - RDA: June 1st, 1934 - 23;
May 1st, 1940: Major i.G.(as from March 1st, 1939, RDA: October 1st, 1938 - 25a);
December 01st, 1940: Oberstleutnant i.G. (56);
January 01st, 1943: Oberst i.G. - RDA January 01st, 1942 - 66;
January 01st, 1944: Generalmajor (21);
December 01st, 1944: Generalleutnant (2).

Career:
May 01st, 1921: 19. (Bayerisches) Infanterie-Regiment
1925: 11. Kompanie, 19. (Bayerisches) Infanterie-Regiment, Kempten, Allgäu
1932: Regimentsstab, 19. (Bayerisches) Infanterie-Regiment, München
1933: Kriegsakademie
September 1935: Generalstab des Heeres, 3. Abteilung, Oberquartiermeister IV
August 26th, 1939: Dritter Generalstabsoffizier, Ic, Stab, 206. Infanterie-Division
June 1940: Erster Generalstabsoffizier, Ia, Stab, 30. Infanterie-Division - campaign in France
June 1941: Erster Generalstabsoffizier, Ia, Stab, 30. Infanterie-Division - campaign in Russia
August 1941: Erster Generalstabsoffizier, Ia, Stab, 2. Armee
November 25th, 1942: Führerreserve
January 19th, 1943: Chef des Generalstabes, XXXXIX. Gebirgs-Korps - Kaukasus
June 01st, 1943: Chef des Generalstabes, 17. Armee
July 09th, 1944: Führerreserve
July 1944: Chef des Generalstabes, Heeresgruppe Nordukraine
January 1945: Chef des Generalstabes, Heeresgruppe Mitte

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Awarded on:

September 16th, 1924

Awarded on:

December 24th, 1926

Awarded on:

October 15th, 1935

Nr. 1452

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Awarded on:

January 18th, 1937

Awarded on:

March 28th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 31st, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 30th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant im Generalstab (Lieutenant-colonel to the General Staff)

Unit:

Ia, Stab, Armee-Ober-Kommando 2, AOK 2

Awarded on:

April 9th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 9th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 18th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 12th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalleutnant (Major-general)

Unit:

Chef der Generalstab, Heeresgruppe Mitte

Awarded on:

February 20th, 1945

The following wartime excerpt (dated 09.03.1945) describes why Xylander received the Knight’s Cross…

“Generalleutnant Wolf-Dietrich Ritter von Hylander had previously distinguished himself as the chief of staff of an Armee in the Kuban bridgehead and the Crimea. Whilst serving as chief of staff of a Heeresgruppe he personally flew a considerable distance over enemy occupied territory in order to get to a cut-off friendly Armee-Korps. After learning of the situation he made the independent decision to send the unit in an attack against the rear of those Soviet armoured forces that had thrust across the Oder. This resulted in strong enemy formations being held up at the Oder river whilst also receiving heavy losses. Generalleutnant von Xylander subsequently died a heroic death during the combat in the East, however he would be awarded the Knight’s Cross posthumously in light of his brave and decisive feat-of-arms.”

Awarded posthumously.

• Photo 1:
• - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - 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
  

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