Petersdorff, von, Horst
- Date of birth:
- December 30th, 1892 (Posen/Province of Posen, Germany)
- Date of death:
- July 12th, 1962 (Prien am Chiemsee, Bavaria, Germany)
- Service number:
- NSDAP Nr. 20.736
- Nationality:
- German (1933-1945, Third Reich)
Biography
Horst Bernhard Kurt von Petersdorff
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1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Hauptmann (Captain)
- Unit:
- Kdr., III. Bataillon, J.R. 189
- Awarded on:
- June 8th, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Hauptmann (Captain)
- Unit:
- Kdr., III. Bataillon, J.R. 189
- Awarded on:
- June 9th, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Hauptmann zur Verwendung
- Unit:
- Kommandeur, III. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 189, 81. Infanterie-Division
- Awarded on:
- June 29th, 1940
At around 05:00 on the 10.06.1941 the Vorausabteilung set out for a continued advance. The goal was to reach the Marne river. During the afternoon of this day the unit approached the city of Chateau-Thierry, and the lead vehicles entered the city at around 18:00.
The following report from a contemporary German newspaper describes what happened next…
“The city was still occupied by the French. The Führer of a German Infanterie Bataillon, a Hauptmann (both a WWI and Freikorps veteran), went into the city with a few men in order to reconnoiter it. A few hours later nothing had been heard back from him except the noises of rifle shots and hand grenade explosions. Then the Hauptmann came back with a long and peculiar column: Over 1000 Senegalese riflemen followed him as prisoners…”
Hauptmann von Petersdorff was later awarded the Knight’s Cross for this deed. The official confirmation provides a further comment into the significance of this action…
“… he has distinguished himself as the commander of the Vorausabteilung of a Division through his particular bravery and prudence. He has decisively contributed to the successes of his Armeekorps.”
Eisernes Kreuz 1.Klasse (1914)
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Awarded on:
- 1916
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Awarded on:
- 1914
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- 1915
Harp Madalyasi
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- April 1917
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SA-Brigadeführer
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- June 23rd, 1927
Rechtsritter-Kreuz zum Johanniterorden
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- December 5th, 1954
Hamburgisches Hanseatenkreuz
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- April 29th, 1918
Komtur II. Klasse zum Friedrichs-Orden
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- May 25th, 1912
Schlesisches Bewährungsabzeichen 2. Stufe
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Sources
- Photo 1: Igor Poul
- Photo 2:
- Photo 3:
- - 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
- Haupt, W., Die 81. Infanterie-Division – Geschichte einer schlesischen Division, Nebel Verlag GmbH, Eggolsheim, Deutschland, 2006
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