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Erdmannsdorff, von, Gottfried (Infanterie-Reg.171)

Date of birth:
April 25th, 1893 (Kamenz/saxony, Germany)
Date of death:
January 30th, 1946 (Minsk/Minsk Oblast, Soviet Union)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Gottfried von Erdmansdorf was Soviet Prisoner-of-War from August 1944. He was sentenced to death by a Soviet Tribunal for atrocities committed in Byelorussia and was executed on 30th January 1946.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
December 30th, 1934
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  3.Klasse, 12 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  2. Klasse, 18 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
February 7th, 1938
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  1.Klasse, 25 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 13th, 1940
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 24th, 1940
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Infanterie-Regiment 171
Awarded on:
February 14th, 1942
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Infanterie-Regiment 171, 56. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
March 20th, 1942
The following wartime excerpt describes why von Erdmannsdorff would be awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“The independent decision of Oberst von Erdmannsdorff to break through in an easterly direction on the 23.01.1942, and the successful prosecution of this operation through to the 25.01.1942, would subsequently be of massive importance for the overall course of the combat. It was only with the help of Gruppe von Erdmannsdorff (consisting of 4 infantry Bataillonen, 1 MG and 1 Pionier Bataillon, 1 Aufklärungs-Abteilung and a light Artillerie-Abteilung) that a defensive front could be built up west of Bolkhov. If this had been broken through near Koljulkina on the 25.01.1942 then it most likely would have required a costly attack to retake the salient position of the LIII. Armee-Korps north of Bolkhov.”

932nd Award.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

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