Schwerin, Graf von, Gerhard Helmut Detloff "Gerd"

Date of birth:: June 23rd, 1899 (Hannover, Germany)
Date of death:: October 29th, 1980 (Rottach-Egern/Bavaria, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Promotions:
August 10th, 1914: Fähnrich;
July 18th, 1915: Leutnant (Patent: June 2rd, 1916);
July 1st, 1923: Leutnant (RDA: March 1st, 1918, -8-);
April 1st, 1925: Oberleutnant (RDA: -666-);
June 1st, 1933: Hauptmann (RDA: -21-);
March 1st, 1937: Major (RDA: -19-, neu RDA: October 1st, 1936, -121a-);
November 10th, 1938: Major (RDA: April 1st, 1936, -79a-);
April 1st, 1939: Oberstleutnant (RDA: August 1st, 1938, -18a-);
August 1st, 1941: Oberst (RDA: -15-);
1 oktober 1942: Generalmajor (RDA: -18a-);
June 1st, 1943: Generalleutnant (RDA: -9a-);
April 1st, 1945: General der Panzertruppen.

Career:
August 10th 1914: in service;
July 31st, 1916: MG Kompanie;
July 15th, 1918: Bataillonsadjutant;
December 15th, 1918: Führer, Freiwilligen Kompanie;
May 11th, 1919: Kompanieoffizier;
March 14th, 1920: Adjutant, III. Bataillon;
July 1st, 1923: Kompanieoffizier, Infanterie-Regiment 1;
January 5th, 1926: 7. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 3;
December 1st, 1926: 8. (MG) Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 3;
October 1st, 1928: 9. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 3;
March 14th, 1930: Wehrkreisprüfung;
October 1st, 1931: Studium Fremdsprache;
October 1st,1931: 2. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 10;
March 11th, 1932: Wehrkreisprüfung;
October 1st, 1932: Chef, 2. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 18;
March 11th, 1933: Wehrkreisprüfung;
October 1st, 1933: Verfügung Chef Hltg.;
May 1st, 1935: Kriegsakademie;
August 24th, 1935: Stab, Infanterieführer, VI;
October 25th, 1935: Generalstab, 22. Infanterie-Division;
October 12th, 1937: Chef, 13. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 17;
November 10th, 1938: 3. Abteilung, Generalstab des Heeres;
September 1st, 1939: Führerreserve;
September 9th, 1939: Kommandeur, I. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment Grossdeutschland;
December 15th, 1940: Kommandeur, Infanterie-Regiment 254;
January 17th, 1941: Kommandeur, Infanterie-regiment z.b.V. 200;
July 28th, 1941: Kommandeur, Infanterie-Regiment 76;
May 29th, 1942: Führerreserve OKH;
July 2rd, 1942: m.d.F.b., 8. Jäger-Division;
September 27th, 1942: Stab, Oberfeldkommandantur 365;
November 5th, 1942: Stab, 16. Infanterie-Division;
November 13th, 1942: Kommandeur, 16. Infanterie-Division;
May 1st, 1944: Kommandeur, 116. Panzer-Division;
September 20th, 1944: Führerreserve OKH;
October 19th, 1944: Reserve Lazerett;
December 10th, 1944: Kommandeur, 90. Panzergrenadier-Division;
February 3rd, 1945: m.d.F.b., LXXVI. Panzerkorps;
April 1st, 1945: Kommandeur, LXXVI. Panzerkorps.

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Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (1914)

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)

Eisernes Kreuz 1.Klasse (1914)

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)

Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber (1918)

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:: 1918

WIA 26.09.1918

Ritter des Königlicher Preussischer Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)

with swords

Ritter des Königlicher Preussischer Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern

DRL Sportabzeichen in Bronze

Rank:: Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:: Chef, 9. Kompanie, III. Bataillon, 3. (Preußisches) Infanterie-Regiment, 1. Division, Reischwehr
Awarded on:: March 14th, 1930

DRL Sportabzeichen in Silber

Rank:: Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:: Chef, 2. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, 10. (Sächsisches) Infanterie-Regiment, 4. Division, Reichswehr
Awarded on:: March 11th, 1932

Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)

Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre

Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 3.Klasse, 12 Jahre

Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 2. Klasse, 18 Jahre

Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 1.Klasse, 25 Jahre

1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur, I. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment Grossdeutschland, Heer
Awarded on:: May 11th, 1940

1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur, I. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment Grossdeutschland, Heer
Awarded on:: May 19th, 1940

Panzerkampfabzeichen (ohne Zahl)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur, Infanterie-regiment z.b.V. 200, 5. leichte Division, Heer
Awarded on:: June 15th, 1941

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur, Infanterie-Regiment (motorisiert) 76, 20. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert), Heer
Awarded on:: January 17th, 1942

Received the Knight's Cross for his actions during the fighting near Mga-Cory (on the approaches to Leningrad) in the time period 30.08.-05.09.1941. Schwerin and his Kampfgruppe found themselves cut off and under attack from all sides for three days during this time. Despite an order from the Korps to break out towards Mga, Schwerin decided to hold out with his troops until relief came. Through his outstanding leadership he and his troops were able to do just this, and in doing so played a decisive role in ensuring the fall of Schlüsselburg three days later.

803rd Heer Award.

Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur, Infanterie-Regiment (motorisiert) 76, 20. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert), Heer
Awarded on:: July 22nd, 1942

Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Generalmajor (Brigadier)
Unit:: Kommandeur, 16. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert), Heer
Awarded on:: May 17th, 1943

Awarded for Schwerin's leadership of the 16. Infanterie-Division (mot) during the retreat from the Caucasus in the winter of 1942-43. He was able to successfully extricate his division until eventually taking up positions along the Mius front in March 1943. His greatest accomplishment during this time was the destruction of the Soviet 4th Guards Mechanized Corps during the battle for the Fedorenko gorge (18.-23.02.1943).

240th Award.

Wehrmachtbericht

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Generalleutnant (Major-general)
Unit:: Kommandeur, 16. Panzergrenadier-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: October 27th, 1943

Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Generalleutnant (Major-general)
Unit:: Kommandeur, 16. Panzergrenadier-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: November 4th, 1943

Awarded for his leadership of the 16. Panzergrenadier-Division during its retreat from the Mius position in the late summer of 1943, and later for its achievements in the fighting for the Zaporozhye bridgehead.

41st Award.