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Mäder, Hellmuth

Date of birth:
July 5th, 1908 (Rotterode/Thuringia, Germany)
Date of death:
May 12th, 1984 (Koblenz/Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Kommandeur III./Infanterie-Regiment 522/297. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
June 27th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Kommandeur III./Infanterie-Regiment 522/297. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
August 1st, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
Kommandeur III./Infanterie-Regiment 522/297. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
April 3rd, 1942
Awarded for his bold crossing of the Mosh river, which enabled the bulk of his Division to cross over the river on the same day. By this the Division was able to avoid a frontal assault against a strongly fortified Soviet position. Another result of the creation of this bridgehead was the ability of the Division to continue its pursuit battle over the Udy and Donez rivers near Tschugujoff on the following day.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:
Infanterie-Lehrbrigade der Heeresgruppen-Waffenschule Nord und Kampfkommandant von die Stadt Schaulen
Awarded on:
August 27th, 1944
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
On the 26.07.1944, following the Soviet summer offensive against Heeresgruppe Nord, the spearhead of the Soviet 3rd Guards Tank Corps reached the city of Schaulen. Available for the defense were only various security companies and other alarm units. Mäder assembled what forces could be found into a Kampfgruppe and defended Schaulen for one day and one night. After this the Kampfgruppe managed to breakout towards Libau on the night of the 27-28.07.1944. For his defense of the city under such difficult circumstances, as well as continuing to defend against the Soviet offensive afterwards with scratch units, Mäder would be decorated with the Oakleaves.

560th Award
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalmajor (Brigadier)
Unit:
Kommandeur Führer-Grenadier-Division
Awarded on:
April 18th, 1945
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern
Awarded for his Division’s success in the battle for Lauban in the time period 01-05.03.1945. Here the spearheads of the Führer-Grenadier-Division linked up with the 8. Panzer-Division on the 04.03.1945, thereby cutting off the attacking Soviet soldiers. Though most Soviet soldiers managed to escape they lost most of their heavy weapons in the process, and Lauban itself was freed. This would be the last great German operational victory in the East.

143rd Award
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

Silver version.
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen

Sources

  • Photo 1: Peter van Holsteijn
  • - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1998.
    - Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer, Elite of the Third Reich - The Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-45: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, England, 2003
    - Berger, F., Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern – Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges, Selbstverlag Florian Berger, Wien, Österreich, 2002/03
    - Williamson, G., Knight’s Cross, Oak-Leaves and Swords Recipients 1941-45, Osprey Publishing Ltd., Great Britain, 2005
    - Lexikon-der-Wehrmacht.de

Photo