Thumm, Helmuth

Date of birth:: August 25th, 1895 (Ravensburg/Württemberg, Germany)
Date of death:: July 13th, 1977 (Welzheim/Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Promotions:
August 8th, 1914: Eingetreten als Freiw.;
August 2nd, 1915: Leutnant Pat. 26-12-1914;
April 1st, 1925: Oberleutnant (86);
March 1st, 1930: Hauptmann (2);
November 1st, 1935: Major (70);
October 1st, 1938: Oberstleutnant (40);
October 1st, 1941: Oberst (18) mit RDA vom 1-10-1940 (28b);
March 1st, 1943: Generalmajor (19);
September 1st, 1943: Generalleutnant (18);
January 1st, 1945: General der Infanterie (3).

Career:
September 1st, 1939: Kdr. I./Inf.Rgt. 56;
June 13th, 1940: Kdr. Inf.Rgt. 56;
January 5th, 1943: mdFb 5. Jg.Div.;
March 1st, 1943: Kdr. 5. Jg.Div.;
August 15th, 1944: Führer-Reserve OKH;
September 29th, 1944: mstFb LXIV. A.K.;
October 25th, 1944: mdFb LXIV. A.K.;
January 1st, 1945: Kom.Gen. LXIV. A.K.;
January 24th, 1945: Führer-Reserve OKH.

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1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiments 56 / 5. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:: June 3rd, 1940

According to the Karteikarte awarded on 2-6-1940.
Had already received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on August 26th 1915.

1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914

1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiments 56 / 5. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:: June 13th, 1940

Had already received the Iron Cross 1st Class on July 3rd 1918.

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur, Infanterie-Regiment 56, 5. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: June 30th, 1941

On the first day of Operation Barbarossa, Thumm contributed decisively to the breakthrough of the Soviet border positions along a broad front, which in turn permitted the entire corps to rapidly advance to and over the Niemen river. He made the independent decision to commit his reserve (III.) battalion to the fighting at Ladzdijai (where II. Bataillon had already secured a foothold on the eastern edge), regardless of the intact Soviet positions on the left flank. This resulted in the rapid fall of the town and enabled the Aufklärungs-Abteilung of the division under the command of Horst Niemack to begin the drive towards the Niemen.

326th Award.

Wehrmachtbericht

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiments 56 / 5. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:: July 5th, 1941

Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur, Jäger-Regiment 56, 5. Jäger-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: December 23rd, 1942

Awarded for his successful leadership of his Regiment during its battles in 1942, specifically the following...

1) Operation Brükkenschlag, where his troops contributed to the German push towards the Demyansk pocket. They captured Kotschanovo, and later pushed on to take Syzyche.

2) Operation Michael, the German offensive to widen the corridor to the Demyansk pocket.

166st Award.
Award personally bestowed by Hitler.