Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Gross-Zauche und Camminetz

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Generalleutnant der Reserve & SS-Brigadeführer Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Groß-Zauche und Camminetz, 1943

Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Groß-Zauche und Camminetz (July 30, 1893 -April 25, 1968) was a Silesian officer and panzer ace. Strachwitz saw action in World War I, but rose to fame for his command of Panzer forces in World War II.

1 Early life
2 World War I - Interwar Period
3 Early World War II Career - der Panzergraf
4 Großdeutschland Panzer Regiment - Promotion to General
5 Final Battles - Post War Career
6 References

[edit] Early life

Strachwitz was born in on July 30, 1893 in the town of Groß Stein. His family were members of the Silesian nobility, and held large estates in Upper Silesia, including the family Schloss at Groß Stein. According to family tradition, being firstborn and heir to the title Graf (Count) Strachwitz, he was christened Hyazinth after the 12th century Saint Hyazinth.

When he came of age, Strachwitz was sent to Berlin to partake in a Prussian military education. After several years intense training and study, Strachwitz was admitted to the élite Garde du Corps cavalry regiment. The Garde had been established by Prussian King Frederick the Great in 1740, and was considered the most prestigious posting in the Imperial German Army, it was even patroned by Emperor Wilhelm II.

Strachwitz continued his studies at the Lichterfelde Military Academy, placing an emphasis on sporting activities, particularly equestrian, fencing and track and field athletics. Strachwitz excelled as a sportsman, and became a prospective candidate for the 1916 Olympic Games. The outbreak of World War one destroyed this opportunity as Strachitz, along with the rest of the Imperial Army, was mobilised and began the march west.

[edit] World War I - Interwar Period

In August 1914, Strachwitz was a Leutnant in the Garde. Only a few weeks into the campaign, Strachwitz had been awarded the Iron Cross both II and I class for bravery in action. In late 1914, he led a raid behind the French lines. After a week of wreaking havoc in the enemy rear, Strachwitz was captured by the French. As he was wearing civilian clothing, he was sentenced to death. The sentence was commuted, and Strachwitz was interned in a Prisoner of War camp in Southern France.

After the German capitulation, Strachwitz was repatriated, but he returned home to a Germany rife with civil unrest. Fearing a Communist revolution, Strachwitz joined the Upper Silesian Freikorps and was involved in several street battles against Communists. Strachwitz also remained in the Army, now called the Reichswehr. He served as a reserve officer in the 7.Reiter Regiment during the 1920 and early 1930s. In 1934, Strachwitz attended a demonstration of the new motorised and mechanised troops. He requested a transfer to the Panzer arm, and in 1935 was sent to Eisenach to become a part of the still forming 2nd Panzer Regiment. The Regiment was to become the basis of the 1.Panzer-Division. Strachwitz, by now promoted to a Major der Reserve was to command the regiment's I. Battalion.

[edit] Early World War II Career - der Panzergraf

After the outbreak of war in September 1939, Strachwitz served with the 1.Panzer-Division throughout the campaigns in Poland and France and the Low Countries. Strachwitz next fought during Operation Marita, the campaign in the Balkans. During this campaign, Strachwitz took part in the advance on Belgrade, fighting alongside the Infanterie-Regiment Großdeutschland. In the early war campaigns, Strachwitz fought well and by May 1941 he had been promoted to the rank of Oberst der Reserve.

When several new Panzer divisions were formed for the launch of Operation Barbarossa, Strachwitz was transferred to command of I. Battalion of the newly formed 18.Panzer Regiment, a part of the 18.Panzer-Division. On 22nd June 1941, Operation Barbarossa was launched.

The 18th Panzer Division was ordered to reinforce a bridgehead over the Bug river held by the division's motorcycle battalion, and currently under heavy attack. Strachwitz's battalion had been equipped with submersible tanks, designed for the abandoned Operation Seelöwe. At 0430 on 22nd June, the Panzers of Strachwitz's battalion, under fire from the opposite bank, drove into the river. After completely submerging, the panzers emerged on the far bank, and began engaging the enemy, soon clearing the area and consolidating the bridgehead. Strachwitz, charging his Panzer III ahead of his troops, engaged a Soviet supply convoy, destroying over three hundred soft-skinned vehicles and several Russian artillery batteries. Strachwitz was awarded the Knight's Cross for his part in this action.

Throughout the campaign, Strachwitz showed an immense talent for commanding the panzers, so much so that his troops nicknamed him der Panzergraf (the Panzer Count). The 18.Panzer-Division next formed a part of Friedrich Paulus' 6.Armee, which was encircled near Stalingrad in late 1942. By now, Strachwitz had been promoted to command of the entire 18th Panzer Regiment. During one engagement on the northern flank of the Kessel, his unit destroyed 105 T-34s. Soon after this, Strachwitz was seriously wounded and flown out of the encirclement. For his actions, he was awarded the Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross.

[edit] Großdeutschland Panzer Regiment - Promotion to General

In January 1943, Strachwitz was given command of Panzerregiment Großdeutschland of the Panzergrenadier Division Großseutschland. He led the regiment when it took part in the Third Battle of Kharkov, fighting alongside SS-Gruppenführer Paul Hausser's II SS Corps. For his actions during these battles, Strachwitz was awarded the Swords to the Knight's Cross. In November 1943, Strachwitz left the Großdeutschland on grounds of ill-health, although tension between the division's commander Walter Papa Hoernlein is thought by many veterans to be the true reason for Strachwitz's departure.

After a month's sick leave, Strachwitz was recalled to active duty and promoted to Generalmajor der Reserve, and was placed in command of the 1.Panzer-Division, though for a short period only. During this time, Strachwitz was also given the rank of SS-Brigadeführer und General der SS. Strachwitz had become a member of the NSDAP before the war (Party membership number 1405562) and was also a member of the Allgemeine SS (SS membership number 82857). Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler typically gave high-profile people like Strachwitz high ranks in the SS for prestige and to keep these people in contact.

[edit] Final Battles - Post War Career

In late 1944, Strachwitz was returned to active duty, despite the fact that he was still suffering badly from the near fatal accident. He was promoted to Generalleutnant der Reserve in January 1945, and ordered to organise the formation of a Panzerjäger Brigade based at Bad Kudova. The Brigade, designated Panzerjäger-Brigade Oberschlesien was an ad-hoc formation of different units, and was, for the most part, poorly trained and equipped. The Brigade was tasked with defending Upper Silesia (hence the designation Oberschlesien lit. Upper Silesia). Strachwitz commanded his brigade in numerous desperate engagements, destroying hundreds of enemy tanks and vehicles. In April 1945, Strachwitz led his men in a successful breakout from a Russian encirclement in Czechoslovakia to the U.S. held region of Bavaria, where he surrendered along with his men. During the war, Strachwitz had lost two sons, both dying in combat on the eastern front. Shortly after his surrender, his wife died in a car accident.

After spending a short time as a prisoner of war, Strachwitz was offered a position as advisor to the Syrian Armed Forces. He took this position, but the overthrow of the Royal Family in 1951 meant that Strachwitz had to flee back to West Germany. He settled on an estate in Chiemsee in Bavaria, where he lived quietly until his death in April 1968. The Bundeswehr provided an honour guard for his coffin, as a mark of respect. Der Panzergraf was lain to rest in the town of Grabenstätt.