| Willibald Freiherr von Langermann und Erlencamp | |
|---|---|
Willibald Freiherr von Langermann und Erlencamp in 1942 |
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| Born | 29 March 1890 Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg |
| Died | 3 October 1942 (aged 52) Storoshewoje |
| Allegiance | German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Heer |
| Years of service | 1910–1942 |
| Rank | General der Panzertruppe |
| Commands held | 4th Panzer Division |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
General Willibald Karl Moritz Robert Rudolf Freiherr von Langermann und Erlencamp[a] (29 March 1890 – 3 October 1942) was a Panzer General in the German army during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
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He joined the 5th Dragoon Regiment of the Imperial German Army in 1910 and in World War I he reached the rank of Hauptmann. He was then retained in the Reichswehr where he served as a staff officer and was appointed commander of Cavalry Regiment 4 in 1935. He was promoted to Oberst in 1936 and in 1938 he was appointed as the inspector of horses and motor transport.
On 1 March 1940 he was promoted to Generalmajor and on 7 May 1940 he was commander of the 29th Infantry Division. For successfully crossing the Marne-Rhine Canal and advancing to the Swiss border he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 15 August 1940.
In September 1940 he was given command of the 4th Panzer Division which he led at opening stages of Operation Barbarossa. In January 1942 he was promoted to Generalleutnant and commanding general of the XXIV Panzer Corps and he led the German advance on Voronezh. On 17 February 1942 he was awarded the Oakleaves to the Knights Cross and on 1 June 1942 was promoted to General der Panzertruppe. During the summer 1942 offensive he led the corps to the Don River in Russia and he died on a visit to the front on 3 October 1942.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Generalleutnant Joachim Lemelsen |
Commander of 29. Infanterie-Division 7 May 1940 – 1 July 1940 |
Succeeded by Generalmajor Walter von Boltenstern |
| Preceded by Generalleutnant Hans Reichsfreiherr von Boineburg-Lengsfeld |
Commander of 4. Panzer-Division 8 September 1940 – 27 December 1941 |
Succeeded by General der Panzertruppen Dietrich von Saucken |
| Preceded by General der Panzertruppen Leo Freiherr Geyr von Schweppenburg |
Commander of XXIV. Armeekorps 7 January 1942 – 21 June 1942 |
Succeeded by redesignated XXIV. Panzerkorps |
| Preceded by XXIV. Armeekorps |
Commander of XXIV. Panzerkorps 21 June 1942 – 3 October 1942 |
Succeeded by General der Panzertruppen Otto von Knobelsdorff |