Franz, Gerhard (Generalmajor)

Date of birth:: February 26th, 1902 (Bobeck/Stadtroda, Germany)
Date of death:: December 24th, 1975 (Bad Wildungen, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Generalmajor

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

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberstleutnant im Generalstab (Lieutenant-colonel to the General Staff)
Unit:: Ia, 29. Infanterie-Division (mot)
Awarded on:: July 24th, 1941

Awarded for his actions during the containment of the Bialystok pocket at the start of Operation Barbarossa. On the 30.06.1941 the divisional commander was forward with the Kampfgruppe of Oberst Thomas when a broken-through Soviet group with tanks tried to push back the right wing of the Infanterie-Regiment 15 and seize control of the bridge at Zelwa from the rear.

In the absence of the divisional commander, Oberstleutnant i.G. Franz organized a new defensive line on his own initiative, and from here he smashed the attack of the broken-through Soviets. This hostile breakout attempt from the Bialystok pocket was defeated thanks to this ruthless and practical intervention by Oberstleutnant Franz.