Date of birth:

May 22nd, 1896 (Eutringen/Württemberg, Germany)

Date of death:

May 12th, 1982 (Munich/Bavaria, Germany)

Nationality:

German

Brother of RKT Alfred Lanz (KIA 1942)

20.06.1914; joined the Reichsheer as Fahnenjunker, Infanterie-Regiment 125
09.09.1914: Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier, severely WIA
12.11.1914: promoted to Fähnrich
04.02.1915: promoted to Leutnant
18.10.1918: promoted to Oberleutnant
01.02.1928: promoted to Hauptmann
01.08.1934: promoted to Major
01.03.1937: promoted to Oberstleutnant i.G., Ia, Chief of Staff, IX. Armeekorps
10.11.1937: Kdr, Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100, Bad Reichenhall
27.08.1939: promoted to Oberst i.G. - RDA 01.08.1939
15.02.1940: Ia, Chief of Staff, XVIII. Armeekorps
25.10.1940-17.12.1942: Kdr, 1. Gebirgs-Division
01.11.1940: promoted to Generalmajor
01.12.1942: promoted to Generalleutnant
17.12.1942: Führerreserve, OKH
26.01.1943: promoted to General der Gebirgstruppe
28.01.1943-20.02.1943: General der Gebirgstruppe, Kdr, Armee-Abteilung 'Lanz'
25.06.1943-26.07.1943: Kdr, XXXXIX. Gebirgskorps
09.09.1943: Kdr, XXII. Gebirgskorps in Greece
08.05.1945: surrendered to US Army troops in Austria - US POW
03.02.1951: released

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Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

August 30th, 1915

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

with swords

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

with swords

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

1934

Awarded on:

1936

Awarded on:

1936

Awarded on:

1936

Awarded on:

1936

Awarded on:

1939

Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 22nd, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 8th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst im Generalstab (Colonel to the General Staff)

Unit:

Chef des Generalstabes, XVIII. Armeekorps, 9. Armee, Heeresgruppe A

Awarded on:

October 1st, 1940

Awarded for his achievements as a Korps chief of staff during the Battle of France. In this time his personal reconnaissance efforts of the Meuse river enabled the Korps to quickly advance across it. He also played a big part in the capture of Leon. At Chemin des Dames he personally led an attack with rifle and grenade in hand, storming a key enemy strongpoint and mastering a critical situation wherein his troops had to temporarily fall back when the enemy launched an AFV supported counterattack. At the Yonne river he personally fended off an enemy attack with an MG long enough for the commanding general, Ritter von Speck, to be evacuated on account of his fatal injuries.

234th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalleutnant (Major-general)

Unit:

Kommandeur, 1. Gebirgs-Division, XXXXI. Gebirgs-Korps, 17. Armee, Heeresgruppe A

Awarded on:

December 23rd, 1942

Awarded for his successful command of the 1. Gebirgs-Division during the campaign against the Soviet Union. He and his troops particularly distinguished themselves during the winter battles at Stalino, the Second Battle of Kharkov and the mountain battles in the Caucasus NE of Tuapse.

160th Award.

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• Photo 2:
• - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1998.
  - Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
  - 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
  - Ritterkreuztraeger 1939 - 1945
  - The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
  - Axis History Biographical Research via Axis History Forum