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Kirschner, Ludwig

Date of birth:
June 12th, 1904 (Bayreuth/Bavaria, Germany)
Date of death:
February 11th, 1945 (near Saybusch, Poland)
Nationality:
German

Biography

Ludwich Kirschner was killed on February 11th,1945 as Kommandeur 320. Volksgrenadier-Division with the rank of Generalmajor.

Promotions:
December 16th, 1928: Polizei-Leutnant;
January 1st, 1934: Polizei-Oberleutnant;
March 16th, 1936: Oberleutnant mit RDA vom 1-5-1933 (18v2);
October 1st, 1936: Hauptmann (26);
August 1st, 1941: Major (17);
November 16th, 1942: Oberstleutnant mit RDA vom 1-11-1942 (66);
May 1st, 1943: Oberst (5d);
January 30th, 1945: Generalmajor.

Career:
August 27th, 1939: Chef 2./Inf.Rgt. 485;
September 11th, 1939: Chef 11./Inf.Rgt. 485;
October 4th, 1940: Chef 3./Inf.Rgt. 437;
April 1st, 1941: Stab 132.Inf.Div.;
August 1st, 1941: Kdr. Inf.Rgt. 436;
May 14th, 1942: mdFb Inf.Rgt. 72;
August 1st, 1942: Kdr. Inf.Rgt. 72;
September 25th, 1943: Führer-Reserve OKH;
Nevember 8th, 1943: Kdr. Btl.Fhr.Sch. Antwerpen;
August 11th, 1944: Kdr. Gren.Lehr-Brigade;
August 20th, 1944: AOK 14 z.Durchfhrg.e.Sonderauftrags z.Verf.gest.;
September 1st, 1944: Führer-Reserve OKH;
October 17th, 1944: mdFb 167.Inf.Div.;
November 1st, 1944: mdFb 320.V.Gren.Div.;
January 30th, 1945: Kdr. 320.V.Gren.Div.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
Kommandeur, I. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 436, 132. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
January 18th, 1942
On the 15.01.1942 Major Kirschner and his Bataillon were deployed as a lead German battalion during the attack on Feodosia. On the 17.01.1942 he conducted a breakthrough of the Soviet positions on his own initiative, despite the risks posed by a lack of contact with his Regiment and strong opposing forces on both flanks. With 150 men he made it to the coastal road north of Saarygol and in doing so completed the German encirclement of Feodosia itself.

For this decisive act Major Kirschner would receive the Knight’s Cross.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Infanterie-Regiment 72, 46. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
October 28th, 1942
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Awarded for outstanding deeds in the Caucasus mountains during October 1942 after the failed German advance to Tuapse.

135th Award.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
December 31st, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 14th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 29th, 1940
Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2.Klasse mit Schwertern
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
February 15th, 1942
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
August 10th, 1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 1st, 1942
Krimschild (Stiftungs ausführing)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 8th, 1941
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
January 3rd, 1942
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
February 8th, 1942

Karteikarte.
Anerkennungsurkunde des Oberbefehlshabers des Heeres
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
I. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 436, 132. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
February 12th, 1942

Awarding date from the Karteikarte. According to Scheibert the awarding date is 8-2-1942.
Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 24th, 1942
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Gold

Sources

Photo