Date of birth:

April 28th, 1910 (Farmssen/Hanover, Germany)

Date of death:

October 5th, 1944 (Torun/Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland)

Buried on:

German War Cemetery Mlawka

Nationality:

German

Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel) Behnken and commander of Grenadier-Regiment 696 died of his wounds at reserve hospital at Torun. He presumably lies buried as an unknown soldier at the German War Cemetery Mlawka.

Promotions:
December 1st, 1940: Hauptmann z.V. (28);
November 1st, 1942: Major (20a);
July 1st, 1944: Oberstleutnant (61).

Career:
January 1st, 1943: Kdr. I./Gren.Rgt. 161;
February 27th, 1943: Mit Vers.v.G.E.B. 190 in 81.Inf.Div.;
March 5th, 1944: Von Kdr. I./Gren.Rgt. 161, z.Zt. Heeres-Nachrintenschule Halle, b.m.d.F. Gren. Rgt. 417;
May 1st, 1944: a.t.Beurteilung;
May 4th, 1944: Mit Belassg.b.d. 168.Inf.Div. einv., wenn Eingng.z.Rgt.Fhr.
May 31st, 1944: Fhr. Gren.Rgt. 417;
June 10th, 1944: Führer-Reserve;
June 12th, 1944: Meldung, warum nicht als Rgt. Kdr.einges.;
July 26th, 1944: Als kdr. Gren.Rgt. 417 vorgesehen;
September 10th, 1944: Ernannt von Führer-Reserve zum Kdr. Gren.Rgt. 1176;
October 1st, 1944: Steht als Kdr. für Gren.Rgt. 174 nicht zur Vfg.;
October 10th, 1944: Ernannt von Kdr. Gren.Rgt. 1176 / 572.VGD zum Kdr. Gren.Rgt. 696 / 340.VGD;
October, 1944: Hat sich erschossen.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann zur Verwendung

Unit:

Kommandeur, I. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 161, 81. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

December 19th, 1942

On the 11.12.1942 the III./Grenadier-Regiment 415, commanded by Hauptmann Sievers, was cut off in its positions along the northern front of the Demyansk corridor in the strongpoint “Schwebekopf”. In response the I./Grenadier-Regiment 161, commanded by Hauptmann Behnken, was assigned the task of relieving Sievers and his men. The relief attack took place on the 13.12.1942. The first attempt took place in the early morning, but this failed due to the Soviet artillery fire. However a later attempt on the evening of the same day was much more successful, and the Bataillon managed to close to gap to Sievers’ encircled group with the help of the regimental Pionier-Zug.

The operation ultimately resulted in the restoration of contact with the Division’s right wing, and Hauptmann Behnken would be awarded the Knight’s Cross less than a week later for bringing about this important victory.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 26th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

April 8th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

April 23rd, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 20th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 7th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

December 16th, 1943

• Photo 1: Igor Poul
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio-Verlag, Osnabrück, 1987.
  - ritterkreuztraeger.info
  - Karteikarte via Bundesarchiv
  - Haupt, W., Die 81. Infanterie-Division – Geschichte einer schlesischen Division, Nebel Verlag GmbH, Eggolsheim, Deutschland, 2006
  

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