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Erich Brandenberger

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Erich Brandenberger
Erich Brandenberger (left) with Erich von Manstein, 1941
Born(1892-07-15)15 July 1892
Augsburg, German Empire
Died21 June 1955(1955-06-21) (aged 62)
Bonn, West Germany
Allegiance German Empire (to 1918)
 Weimar Republic (to 1933)
 Nazi Germany
Service / branchArmy (Wehrmacht)
Years of service1911 - 1945
Rank General der Panzertruppe
Commands8th Panzer Division
XXIX Army Corps
Battles / warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Erich Brandenberger (15 July 1892 – 21 June 1955) was a German general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

Biography

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In World War I Brandenberger served as an officer in the 6th Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment. He started World War II as Chief of the General Staff of the XXIII Army Corps (16 September 1939 - 15 February 1941) on the Westwall. He commanded 8th Panzer Division (20 February 1941 - 16 January 1943), LIX Army Corps (January — March 1943) and XXIX Army Corps (November 1943 - Jun 1944) on the Eastern Front.

In late 1944 and early 1945, Brandenberger led the 7th Army on the Western Front during the German Ardennes Offensive. He surrendered to the American forces commanded by Edward H. Brooks on 6 May 1945 as the commander of 19th Army in Innsbruck. He was interned until 1948.

Luger pistol surrendered by Brandenberger to Brooks, currently in the collection of the Sullivan Museum and History Center, Norwich University.

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ a b Thomas 1997, p. 71.
  2. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 238.

Sources

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  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander of LIX Army Corps
17 January 1943 - 15 March 1943
Succeeded by
General der Infanterie Kurt von der Chevallerie
Preceded by
General der Infanterie Hans von Obstfelder
Commander of XXIX Army Corps
May 1943 – 30 June 1944
Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Anton Bechtolsheim
Preceded by
General der Infanterie Wilhelm Schneckenburger
Commander of XVII Army Corps
1 August 1943 – 1 November 1943
Succeeded by
General der Gebirgstruppen Hans Kreysing
Preceded by Commander of 7th Army
3 September 1944 – 21 February 1945
Succeeded by
General Hans Felber
Preceded by
General der Infanterie Hans von Obstfelder
Commander of 19th Army
March 1945 – April 1945
Succeeded by
disbanded