TracesOfWar needs your help! Every euro, pound or dollar you contribute greatly supports the continuation of this website. Go to stiwot.nl and donate!

Engel, Gerhard Michael (Generalleutnant)

Date of birth:
April 13th, 1906 (Guben/Brandenburg, Germany)
Date of death:
December 9th, 1976 (Munich/Bavaria, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
01.07.1937: Gefreiter
01.10.1937: Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier
01.08.1928: Fähnrich
01.08.1929: Oberfähnrich
01.09.1930: Leutnant
01.03.1937: Hauptmann
01.01.1941: Major - RDA 01.01.1940 (23a)
01.03.1943: Oberstleutnant
20.08.1944: Oberst
09.11.1944: Generalmajor
01.04.1945: Generalleutnant

Career:
05.10.1925: Entered Army Service
05.10.1925-01.09.1930: 5th Infantry-Regiment
17.10.1927-21.08.1929: detached to I. then II. Course at the Infantry-School
01.09.1930-01.04.1932: Company-Officer, 2nd Company, 5th Infantry-Regiment
01.04.1932-10.09.1933: Company-Officer, 3rd Company, 5th Infantry-Regiment
10.09.1933-15.10.1935: Adjutant, III. Battalion, 5th Infantry-Regiment, then III. Battalion, Infantry-Regiment Rostock then Half-Regiment Rostock
15.10.1935-12.10.1937: Regiments-Adjutant, 27th Infantry-Regiment
12.10.1937-27.03.1938: Chief, 11th Company, 27th Infantry-Regiment
10.01.1938-22.01.1938: Course for Company-Chiefs of Infantry-Gun-Companies, Infantry-School, Döberitz
27.03.1938-01.02.1944: Adjutant of the Wehrmacht with the Führer and Reichs Chancellor
18.10.1943-13.11.1943: Battalion-Leaders-Course, Antwerp
20.11.1943-03.12.1943: Weapon Technology Course
13.12.1943-22.01.1944: Regimental-Leaders-Course, Döberitz
01.02.1944-19.07.1944: Commander, 27th Fusilier-Regiment
19.07.1944-22.07.1944: Commander, 1097th Grenadier-Regiment
22.07.1944-09.11.1944: delegated with the Leadership of the 12th Infantry-Division
09.11.1944-13.04.1945: Commander, 12th Infantry-Division
13.04.1945-08.05.1945: Commander, Infantry-Division 'Ulrich von Hutten'
08.05.1945-00.12.1947: US POW
00.12.1947: released
00.04.1958-09.12.1976: National Representative of the Committee for Military Regulars III (North Rhine-Westphalia)

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Awarded on:
July 30th, 1925
DRL Sportabzeichen in Bronze
Awarded on:
July 28th, 1932
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  3.Klasse, 12 Jahre
Awarded on:
July 14th, 1938
Ordine della Corona d'Italia - Ufficiale
Awarded on:
July 14th, 1938
Ordine dei Santi Maurizio e Lazzaro - Ufficiale
Awarded on:
November 21st, 1938
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
Awarded on:
January 3rd, 1939
Magyar Érdemrend Tisztikeresztje
Awarded on:
July 28th, 1939
Order of St. Sava 3rd Class
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
June 7th, 1940
Ordinul Coroana Romaniei Ofiter
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1940
Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2.Klasse mit Schwertern
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1941
Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1.Klasse mit Schwertern
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
December 16th, 1941

Awarded with swords.
Vapaudenristin 2.luokka (VR 2)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

Silver version.
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:
Adjutant der Wehrmacht (Heer) beim Führer und Reichskanzlei
Awarded on:
October 16th, 1943
Deutsches Kreuz in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
February 26th, 1944
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 23rd, 1944
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Füsilier-Regiment 27, 12. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
July 4th, 1944
In June 1944 the 12. Infanterie-Division was encircled in Mogilev. Oberstleutnant Engel was determined to break out and therefore took over leadership of the Division. He formed a Kampfgruppe using whatever forces were at hand and managed to fight through to Minsk while taking alone all wounded and dead. But upon arrival the Kampfgruppe was encircled once again, and once again Engel launched a breakout and was able to reach friendly lines at Baranowitschi. Meanwhile the bulk of the 12. Infanterie-Division was annihilated in the Tscherwen pocket during the time period 04.-06.07.1944.

Engel would receive the Knight’s Cross for his determined leadership, which enabled at least a few soldiers to escape under nigh-impossible circumstances.

3282nd Award.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
November 26th, 1944
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalmajor (Brigadier)
Unit:
Kommandeur, 12. Volks-Grenadier-Division
Awarded on:
December 11th, 1944
The following press article, dated 16.12.1944, describes why Engel would receive the Oakleaves…

“Generalmajor Engel and his Volksgrenadier-Division have fought at the heart of the heavy combat during the second and third battles of Aachen. Always located in the foremost line at the decisive hour, he has inspired his men to high achievements through his example. He and his Division (which was named in a Wehrmachtbericht supplement on the 26.11.1944) have a significant share in the German defensive successes near Aachen.”

679th Award
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

Sources

Photos