Date of birth:

September 21st, 1887 (Buer/Western Phalia, Germany)

Date of death:

March 14th, 1968 (Nuremberg/Bavaria, Germany)

Nationality:

German

Jozef Harpe enlisted as an officer candidate in the Prussian army in 1909. He fought on the Western Front throughout World War I, was wounded, decorated with the Iron Cross I and II, and by the end of the war had reached the rank of captain.

During the interwar period, he remained with the now Reichswehr and after various positions and promotions had risen to Colonel and commander of the1st Armored Brigade at the beginning of World War II, which he led during the invasion of Poland. After being promoted to general in 1940, he fought on the Eastern Front from June 1941 to March 1945.

As now commander-in-chief of the 9th Army, Harpe ordered the forced removal of civilians capable of working in Belarus in March 1944. This order also provided for the deportation of their relatives who were unable to work. The purpose of this was to get rid of epidemic patients (typhus), the disabled, the elderly and women with more than two children under the age of ten, as well as other people who were incapacitated in the area of the corps and thus have more space to accommodate soldiers and not have to feed “unnecessary” mouths.

To this end, three makeshift camps were set up in the swamps near the village of Ozarichi south of the Belarusian city of Bobruisk. These camps have gone down in history as “Destruction Camp Ozarichi” and are considered among the worst war crimes committed by the Wehrmacht.

In fact, these “camps” were nothing more than a piece of land cordoned off with barbed wire. In Ozarichi, it is estimated that over 40,000 people without shelter and food were abandoned to their fate or shot without mercy under terrible conditions.

Between March 12 and 19, 1944, approximately 9,000 civilians died in this camp. Other sources speak of even greater numbers. On March 19, the survivors were liberated by the advancing Red Army.

In January 1945, Harpe was relieved of his command by Hitler. In March of that year, he became commander of the5th Armored Army and was captured by the Americans in the Ruhr area in April. He was released from captivity in 1948 and was never prosecuted for his role in this war crime. One of the others responsible, General Richtert who had fallen into the hands of the Russians was hanged after a trial in Minsk in January 1946.

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Promotions:
28.09.1900: Fahnenjunker
01.03.1910: Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier
17.05.1910: Fähnrich
20.03.1911: Leutnant
18.04.1915: Oberleutnant
18.04.1918: Hauptmann
01.04.1931: Major
01.08.1934: Oberstleutnant
01.01.1937: Oberst
30.08.1940: Generalmajor
15.01.1942: Generalleutnant
01.06.1942: General der Panzertruppe
20.04.1944: Generaloberst

Career:
28.09.1909: Fahnenjunker, Infanterie-Regiment „Vogel von Falckenstein" (7. Westfälisches) Nr. 56
01.10.1913: Leutnant, Adjutant, III. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment „Vogel von Falckenstein" (7. Westfälisches) Nr. 56
15.11.1914: Führer, 5. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment „Vogel von Falckenstein" (7. Westfälisches) Nr. 56
00.00.1915: stellvertretender Regimentsadjutant then Führer, 5. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment „Vogel von Falckenstein" (7. Westfälisches) Nr. 56
01.04.1915: Regimentsadjutant, Infanterie-Regiment „Vogel von Falckenstein" (7. Westfälisches) Nr. 56
20.08.1916-15.09.1916: Oberleutnant, ill, Feldlazarett V, XVI. Armee-Korps
21.11.1917: Nachrichtenschule der Heeresgruppe Herzog Albrecht von Württemberg and Chef, 9. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment „Vogel von Falckenstein" (7. Westfälisches) Nr. 56
15.12.1917: stellvertretender Führer, III. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment „Vogel von Falckenstein" (7. Westfälisches) Nr. 56
00.04.1918: Kleveschen Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 43, Generalkommando des XXXVIII. Reserve-Korps
18.04.1918: Hauptmann, Stab, 14. Infanterie-Division
02.06.1918: WIA
19.06.1918: Ersatz-Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment „Vogel von Falckenstein" (7. Westfälisches) Nr. 56
24.06.1918: Zweiter Generalstabsoffizier, Generalstab, 2. Marine-Division
20.12.1918: Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 56
18.01.1919: Führer, 6. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 56
00.00.1919: Generalstabsoffizier, Generalkommando, VII. Armee-Korps
01.10.1919-15.05.1920: Stab, Reichswehr-Brigade 3
15.02.1928: Reichswehrministerium
15.10.1935: Oberstleutnant, Kommandeur, Panzer-Regiment 3
00.00.1937: Oberst, Kommandeur, Panzer-Brigade 1
01.03.1940: Kommandeur der Panzertruppenschule in Wünsdorf
00.10.1940-00.01.1941: Generalmajor, Kdr, 2. Infanterie-Division (mot.)
10.01.1941: Generalmajor, Kdr, 12. Panzer-Division- Minsk, Tichwin
15.01.1942: Generalleutnant, Kommandierender General, XXXXI. Panzer-Korps
04.11.1943: General der Panzertruppe, Oberbefehlshaber der 9. Armee
01.05.1944-28.06.1944: Generaloberst, Kdr, 4. Panzer-Armee and Führer, Heeresgruppe Nordukraine
24.09.1944-17.01.1945: Kdr, Heeresgruppe A
09.03.1945: Kdr, 5. Panzer-Armee
17.04.1945: captured in the Ruhr Pocket, US POW
14.04.1948: released

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Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

September 21st, 1914

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

September 3rd, 1915

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

May 20th, 1918

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

1934

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

1937

with swords

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

1937

Period:

Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)

Awarded on:

May 1939

Awarded on:

1939

Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1940

Had already received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on September 21st 1914.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1940

Had already received the Iron Cross 1st Class on September 3rd 1915.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalmajor (Brigadier)

Unit:

Kommandeur, 12. Panzer-Division, XXXIX. Armee-Korps, 9. Armee, Heeresgruppe Mitte

Awarded on:

August 13th, 1941

The following excerpt describes the Knight’s Cross actions of Josef Harpe as follows…

“During the defensive battle at Wop, Harpe and his Division had to cover a 40-km wide sector. On the 24. and 25.07.1941 this sector was assaulted by a fresh Siberian corps. Through a combination of superior combat leadership and excellent Luftwaffe support, not only was the enemy attack repelled, but the Siberian 91st Division was completely annihilated in a counterattack.”

418th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

in silver

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalmajor (Brigadier)

Unit:

Kommandeur, 12. Panzer-Division, Heeresgruppe Nord

Awarded on:

December 31st, 1941

Awarded for the role of his Division during the fighting towards, and subsequent withdrawal from, Tikhvin. His Division managed to seize the city as planned. Although Harpe was wounded in the head he remained with his troops. Later, after the German units there were ordered to withdraw, Harpe and his Division once again played a major part in ensuring this took place in an orderly fashion during the time period 10.-17.12.1941. Even though the city was almost surrounded, Harpe and his Division did an outstanding job as a rearguard unit and were able to ensure that the 3 retreating German divisions were able to reach their designated fallback position with minimal losses in men and equipment.

55th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

General der Panzertruppen (Lieutenant-General of Armoured Forces)

Unit:

Kommandierende General, XXXXI. Panzerkorps

Awarded on:

February 19th, 1943

Award 295/2

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

with swords and crown

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

General der Panzertruppen (Lieutenant-General of Armoured Forces)

Unit:

Kommandierender General, XXXXI. Panzerkorps

Awarded on:

September 15th, 1943

The following press article describes why Harpe was decorated with the Swords to his Knight’s Cross…

“At the start of July 1943, as the commanding General of a Panzerkorps south of Orel in both attack and defense, General der Panzertruppe Harpe achieved a considerable success through the smashing of the enemy assembly areas for their offensive. This was possible thanks to his skillful and decisive leadership. When the Soviets then commenced their attack, he was able to reposition his troops swiftly and effectively for defense. They were able to repel the incoming Soviet divisions while inflicting heavy losses in men and especially in tanks.

Within a short time he was moved to the combat sector north of Orel. Here he was to rally the German units that had been forced to retreat in several locations (due to the enemy superiority) for defense. With only a young officer as an escort, he rushed from one hotspot of the fighting to the other and organized a cohesive resistance.

A major enemy penetration took place northwest of Orel on one of the last days of July. After General der Panzertruppe Harpe had ordered the necessary countermeasures, he rushed to the command posts of the impacted divisions. After a few hours the danger had been resolved thanks to his decisive intervention. The defensive front was successfully reformed and the onslaught of numerous enemy rifle divisions and tank brigades bloodily repulsed.”

36th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

General der Panzertruppen (Lieutenant-General of Armoured Forces)

Awarded on:

January 1st, 1944

Northwest of Rechitsa, troops of the army under the command of General of Panzer Troops Harpe closed a weeks-long gap in the front in seven days of heavy fighting, while destroying powerful enemy forces.

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• - WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 2009.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
  - Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
  - Kurowski F., Feldwebel Kurt Knispel, Der erfolgreichste Panzerschütze und Panzerkommandant des 2. Weltkrieges, Flechsig Verlag, Würzburg, 2007
  - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001
  - Ritterkreuztraeger 1939 - 1945
  - https://www.konfliktlandschaften.uni-osnabrueck.de/fileadmin/user_upload/crass_rrohrkamp_ozarichi@Enzyclopedia_of_Camps_and_Ghettos.pdf
  - 80 years since the mass murder in Ozarichi, Belarus carried out by the German military - World Socialist Web Site