Arnold Burmeister

Arnold Hans Albert Burmeister
Born	28 February 1899 Norburg, Denmark
Died	2 July 1988 (aged 89) Stühlingen
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1916–45
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	25. Panzergrenadier Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Siegfried Line Campaign Operation Nordwind Vistula-Oder Offensive Battle of the Seelow Heights Battle of Halbe
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Other work	Bundesgrenzschutz

Arnold Hans Albert Burmeister (28 February 1899 – 2 July 1988) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 25. Panzergrenadier Division. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Arnold Burmeister was captured by British troops in May 1945, and was held until 1947.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1919)
  • 2nd Class
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (18 September 1939)
  • 1st Class (14 October 1939)
• Panzer Badge (18 May 1940)
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black (4 November 1943)
• Eastern Front Medal
• German Cross in Gold (9 April 1943)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 April 1945 as Generalmajor and commander of 25. Panzergrenadier-Division ^[1]
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (24 December 1944)

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
24 December 1944 (addendum)	In der Schlacht um Lothringen und in den Vorfeldkämpfen des Westwalls an der Saar haben sich die 11. Panzer-Division unter Führung des Generalleutnants Wend von Wietersheim und die 25. Panzergrenadier-Division unter Führung des Obersten Burmeister hervorragend geschlagen.[2]	In the Battle of Lorraine and in the advance battles of the Western Wall at the Saar, the 11th Panzer-Division under the command of Lieutenant-General Wend von Wietersheim and the 25th Panzer-Grenadier-Division under the leadership of Colonel Burmeister have fought magnificently.

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 128.
2. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 574.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. 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.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• 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.
• 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

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945