Hermann-Heinrich Behrend

This article is about the Generalmajor. For the Nazi SS official, see Hermann Behrends. For the Unteroffizier, see Heinrich Behrends.
Hermann-Heinrich Behrend
Born 25 August 1898
Perleberg
Died 19 June 1987 (aged 88)
Soltau
Allegiance German Empire German Empire (to 1918)
Germany Weimar Republic (to 1933)
Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
Service/branch Imperial German Army
Reichswehr
German Army
Years of service 1915–20
1924–45
Rank Generalmajor
Commands held I./Infanterie-Regimentt 489
Grenadier-Regiment 154
490th Infanterie-Division
Battles/wars

World War I

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
Other work farmer

Hermann-Heinrich Behrend (25 August 1898 – 19 June 1987) was a German Generalmajor, serving during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career

Behrend was born on 25 August 1898 in Perleberg in the Province of Brandenburg, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia. Aged seventeen, he joined the German Army on 1 June 1915 with the Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Füsilier-Regiment Nr. 90 Kaiser Wilhelm (Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Fusilier Regiment Nr. 90 Emperor Wilhlem). Where he was assigned to the 4th Company on 15 June 1915 then transferred to the 3rd Company on 20 July 1915 and again moved on 8 August 1915, this time to the 7th Company. With this unit he was sent to the Eastern Front of World War I where he arrived on 9 August 1915. Behrend fell ill and from 1 October 1915 to 6 October 1915 was sent to the Vereinslazarett II (2nd hospital) of the Red Cross in Landsberg an der Warthe, present-day Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland. Following his sick leave, Behrend was transferred to the 5th Company of the Reserve Infantry Regiment 90 on 7 October 1915, and from 13 October to 4 November 1915 to the 3rd Company of the same regiment.[1]

He was transferred to the 1st Infantry Division on 5 November 1915. Here he was posted to 11th Company of Infantry Regiment 43 on 14 November 1915. While serving with this unit he was promoted to Gefreiter (enlisted soldier) on 4 January 1916, to Fahnenjunker (cadet) on 29 February 1916 and to Unteroffizier (corporal) on 29 March 1916.[1] He was promoted to Fähnrich (ensign) in 1917 for his bravery before the enemy and to Leutnant (second lieutenant) the same year.

Awards

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
18 April 1945 (addendum) Bei den schweren Kämpfen in Nordwestdeutschland hat sich die 490. Infanterie-Division unter Führung von Oberst Behrend, ausgezeichnet mit dem Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, durch vorbildliche Standhaftigkeit hervorragend bewährt. Der mit dem Ritterkreuz zum Eisernen Kreuz ausgezeichnete Oberstleutnant Knaust, Regimentskommandeur dieser Division, hat sich bei diesem Kämpfen durch persönlichen Einsatz ganz besonders hervorgetan.[9] The 490th Infantry Division under the command of Colonel Behrend, awarded with the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, has excelled by showing exemplary steadfastness in the heavy fighting in north-western Germany. The winner of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Lieutenant Colonel Knaust, regimental commander in this division, has personally particularly distinguished himself in these battles.

Notes

  1. ↑ The sequential numbers greater than 143 for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords are unofficial and were assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) and are therefore denoted in parentheses.[8]

References

Citations
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Thomas & Wegmann 1987, p. 366.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Thomas 1997, p. 38.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Thomas & Wegmann 1987, p. 368.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 212.
  5. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 127.
  6. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 79.
  7. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 48.
  8. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 49–51.
  9. ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 544.
Bibliography
  • Berger, Florian (1999). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges [With Oak Leaves and Swords. The Highest Decorated Soldiers of the Second World War] (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-0-6.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Schaulen, Fritjof (2003). Eichenlaubträger 1940 – 1945 Zeitgeschichte in Farbe I Abraham – Huppertz [Oak Leaves Bearers 1940 – 1945 Contemporary History in Color I Abraham – Huppertz] (in German). Selent, Germany: Pour le Mérite. ISBN 978-3-932381-20-1.
  • 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 Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Thomas, Franz; Wegmann, Günter (1987). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil III: Infanterie Band 1: A–Be [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part III: Infantry Volume 1: A–Be] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-1153-2.
  • 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.
  • Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 3, 1 January 1944 to 9 May 1945] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Generalmajor Ernst Wißelinck		 Commander of Division Nr. 490/490. Infantrie-Division
1 April 1945 – 8 May 1945 		Succeeded by
disbanded