Date of birth:

June 25th, 1893 (Pleß/Silesia, Germany)

Date of death:

April 29th, 1971 (Bonn/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)

Nationality:

German

Following heavy fighting and surrounding of the city during the Battle of Königsberg by the 36-division strong 3rd Byelorussian Front under Ivan Chernyakhovsky, Lasch, with only badly crippled divisions under his command, decided to surrender the city to the Red Army on 9 April 1945. For this act, Hitler condemned him in absentia and his family to death. His wife and daughters were arrested in Berlin and Denmark. However at the end of the war they were released.

Lasch went into Sovjet captivity and was released in October 1955.

Promotions:
March 27th, 1913: Fahnenjunker;
March 22nd, 1914: Fähnrich;
August 6th, 1914: Leutnant mit Pat. 19-12-1912;
March 22nd, 1918: Oberleutnant;
July 20th, 1921: Polizei-Hauptmann;
January 1st, 1934: Polizei-Major mit RDA vom 1-7-1934 (55);
October 15th, 1935: Major;
January 1st, 1937: Oberstleutnant (47);
December 1st, 1939: Oberst (10);
August 1st, 1942: Generalmajor (12);
April 1st, 1943: Generalleutnant (10c).

Career:
September 1st, 1939: Kdr. III./Inf.Rgt. 3;
October 25th, 1939: Kdr. Inf.Rgt. 43;
August 20th, 1942: mdFb 217. Inf.Div.;
September 27th, 1942: Kdr. 217. Inf.Div.;
November 20th, 1943: Kdr. 349. Inf.Div.;
August 12th, 1944: Führer-Reserve OKH;
September 2nd, 1944: mdFb LXIV. Res.A.K.;
October 25th, 1944: mdWdGb.Stellv.K.G.u.Befh. im W.Kr. I;
November 1st, 1944: Stellv.Kom.Gen.u.Befh. im W.Kr. I;
January 27th, 1945: Kdt.d.Verteidig.Bereiches glz.Königsberg;
April 11th, 1945: zum Tode durch den Strang verurteilt.

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Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

October 5th, 1914

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

July 2nd, 1916

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 14th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 24th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 1st, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Infanterie-Regiment 43, 1. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

July 3rd, 1941

32nd Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 10th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 2nd, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 9th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 14th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Infanterie-Regiment 43, 1. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

July 17th, 1941

During Operation Barbarossa Oberst Lasch commanded a number of subordinated Vorausabteilungen in order to quickly reach and seize Riga. He pushed his men hard and broke into Riga as planned, securing the necessary preconditions for the seizure of the eastern parts of the city on the 01.07.1941 by reinforcing German troops. His major contribution towards the securing of the city was of great importance for the further operations of the 18. Armee, and for this he was awarded the Knight’s Cross.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalleutnant (Major-general)

Unit:

Kommandeur, 349. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

September 10th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

April 12th, 1945

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• - DÖRR, M., Die Inhaber der Anerkennungsurkunde des Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres 1941-1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1993.
  - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1998.
  - Axis History Forum via Awardholders / unit
  - NARA Roll T-78 R889