Date of birth:

March 26th, 1896 (Greiz/Thuringia, Germany)

Date of death:

November 10th, 1964 (Münster/Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

07.08.1914: Fahnenjunker, 7. Thüringische Infanterie-Regiment 96
10.11.1914: Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter
02.12.1914: Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier
26.11.1914: WIA
27.01.1915: Fähnrich
22.03.1915: promoted to Leutnant - Patent 22.11.1913
11.08.1915: WIA
00.00.1916: Leutnant, Kompanie-Führer, Verdun and the Somme
13.10.1916: WIA
00.01.1917: Flandern, Ypres and the Somme
14.03.1918: awarded the Fürstlich Schwarzburgisches Ehrenkreuz 3. Klasse mit Schwertern
20.08.1918: Leutnant, Bataillons-Adjutant then Regiments-Adjutant, 7. Thüringisches Infanterie-Regiment 96
02.09.1918: WIA
31.07.1919: retired
25.11.1921: char. als Oberleutnant a.D.
01.10.1934: promoted to Hauptmann - RDA 01.01.1934
00.10.1934: Kraftfahr-Lehr-Kommando, Zossen
00.10.1935: Hauptmann, Chef, 6. Kompanie, Panzer-Regiment 1
00.11.1938: Hauptmann, Kdr, Panzer-Abteilung 66, 2. Leichte-Division
01.01.1939: promoted to Major
08.09.1939: WIA during the campaign in Poland
28.10.1939-12.11.1941: Major, Kommandeur, II. Bataillon, Panzer-Regiment 7, 10. Panzer-Division, 4. Armee
00.05.1940-00.06.1940: campaign in France, Sedan, Calais, Lyon
21.06.1941: Barbarossa, Bug River, Smolensk, Beresina River, Jelnja
12.11.1941: Major, temporary Führer, Panzer-Regiment 7, 10. Panzer-Division, attack on Moscow
01.01.1942: promoted to Oberstleutnant
20.04.1942: Oberst, Kdr, Panzer-Regiment 7, 10. Panzer-Division, sent to France
00.07.1942: sent to Tunisia, DAK
01.12.1942: promoted to Oberst - RDA 01.04.1942
23.03.1943: WIA for the 6th time - sent to Lazarett in Germany
00.09.1943: Stab, Oberbefehlshaber Süd, Rome, Italy
15.11.1943-00.02.1945: Oberst, Kdr, Panzer-Lehr-Regiment 130, Fallingbostel
13.02.1945-19.03.1945: Divisions-Führer-Lehrgang
20.03.1945: Oberst, Kdr, Kampfgruppe, 26. Panzer-Division, Oder Front
06.05.1945: US POW

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Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

December 5th, 1914

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

October 15th, 1916

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

June 9th, 1917

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

July 14th, 1918

4 times WIA

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

October 1st, 1938

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 23rd, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 7th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

January 13th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 10th, 1940

in silver

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Kommandeur, II. Bataillon, Panzer-Regiment 7, 10. Panzer-Division, 4. Armee, Heeresgruppe Mitte

Awarded on:

September 22nd, 1941

On the 14.07.1941 Major Gerhardt led his Abteilung in a rampage against Soviet columns in and around Mstislawl. Along with the weak Kradschützen units operating in conjunction with him he blocked the roads leading from the west and south, and also captured the crossing over the Wjechra. He held these newly won positions with his weak forces for hours against strong hostile attacks, using the firepower of his Panzers to best effect. Through this action he was able to secure the vital crossroads in the town at an unexpectedly early time, and he was awarded the Knight’s Cross in recognition of this feat.

Submitted on September 18th 1944.
Preliminary document and decoration on September 22nd 1944 to AOK 4.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 14th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Panzer-Regiment 7, 10. Panzer-Division

Awarded on:

May 12th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 27th, 1943

• Photo 1:
• - FEDERL, CH., Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Panzerdivisionen 1939-1945, VDM Heinz Nickel, Zweibrücken, 2000.
  - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - KUROWSKI, F., Elite Panzer Strike Force, Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, United States, 2011.
  - LEFÈVRE, E., Panzers in Normandy, After The Battle, London, UK, 1983.
  - PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
  - WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 2009.