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Elverfeldt, Freiherr von, Harald

    Date of birth:
    February 6th, 1900 (Hildesheim/Lower Saxony, Germany)
    Date of death:
    March 6th, 1945 (Cologne/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)
    Nationality:
    German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

    Biography

    In service from March 28th 1918.

    1918 Fähnrich
    1919 Leutnant
    1926 Oberleutnant
    1933 Hauptmann
    1937 Major i.G.
    1939 Oberstleutnant i.G.
    1942 Oberst i.G.
    1943 Generalmajor
    1945 Generalleutnant posthum

    In 1918 Freiherr von Elverfeldt joined the 1st Guards Regiment on foot as an ensign. After several different assignments and training as a General Staff Officer, he was promoted to Major i.G. on March 1, 1937 and from November 1938 he was 1st General Staff Officer in the 3rd Light Division.
    From February 15, 1940 to January 31, 1941 he was Ia of the XV. Panzer Corps and from March 1941 to the end of January 1943 Chief of the General Staff of the LVI. Panzer Corps, from January 1943 to August 1943 he was Chief of the General Staff of the 9th Army. He was then Chief of the General Staff of the 17th Army for three months. From February 15, 1944 he was Ia of the course for senior troop leaders and in September 1944 he was given command of the 9th P.D.
    For his services in the leadership of his division he was awarded the Knight's Cross on December 9, 1944.
    Baron von Elverfeldt was killed in a street fight in Cologne-Nippes at the end of March 1943.

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    September 29th, 1939

    Had already received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on April 17th 1919.
    1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    October 8th, 1939
    Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberst im Generalstab (Colonel to the General Staff)
    Unit:
    Chef des Generalstabes, LVI. Panzerkorps
    Awarded on:
    March 16th, 1942

    Award 92.14
    Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    November 26th, 1944
    Wehrmachtbericht
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Generalmajor (Brigadier)
    Unit:
    Kommandeur, Stab, 9. Panzer-Division, Heer
    Awarded on:
    December 9th, 1944
    Awarded the Knight’s Cross for his Division’s performance around Geilenkirchen during the time period 15.11.-02.12.1944. Within the days 17.-22.11.1944 the Division destroyed a total of 134 tanks, some of these in close combat, and prevented an enemy breakthrough.

    4181st Award.
    Submitted on November 27th 1944.
    Preliminary document and decoration on December 15th 1944 to OB West.
    Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Generalmajor (Brigadier)
    Unit:
    Kommandeur, Stab, 9. Panzer-Division, Heer
    Awarded on:
    March 23rd, 1945
    Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
    Awarded for his leadership of the 9. Panzer-Division during the Ardennes offensive and in the defensive battles afterwards.

    801st Award.
    Submitted on March 14th 1945.
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    December 21st, 1934
    Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    August 5th, 1942
    Medaille
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    October 2nd, 1936
    Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  1.Klasse, 25 Jahre

    Sources

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