Erpo Freiherr von Bodenhausen

Erpo Kraft Bodo Ernst Gustav Wilke Freiherr von Bodenhausen
Born	12 April 1897 Schloß Arnstein
Died	9 May 1945 (aged 48) Grobin, Generalbezirk Lettland, Reichskommissariat Ostland now Grobiņa, Grobiņa Municipality, Latvia
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1914–45
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	12. Panzer Division L. Armeekorps
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Balkan Campaign Operation Barbarossa Siege of Leningrad Battle of Kursk Courland Pocket
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Erpo Kraft Bodo Ernst Gustav Wilke Freiherr von Bodenhausen^{[Note 1]} (12 April 1897 – 9 May 1945) was a German general who commanded the 12th Panzer Division during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Generalleutnant von Bodenhausen committed suicide on 9 May 1945 in the Courland Pocket rather than surrender to Soviet forces.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (12 October 1915)^[1]
  • 1st Class (6 October 1917)^[1]
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black (27 September 1918)^[1]
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (1934)
• Wehrmacht Long Service Award (2 October 1936)^[1]
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (22 September 1939)^[1]
  • 1st Class (30 September 1939)^[1]
• Panzer Badge in Bronze (1 November 1940)^[1]
• Eastern Front Medal (3 October 1942)^[1]
• German Cross in Gold on 31 January 1942 as Oberstleutnant in Schützen-Regiment 28^[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 17 December 1943 as Generalmajor and commander of 12. Panzer-Division^{[3][4][Note 2]}
• Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht (18 February 1944 and 28 December 1944)

Wehrmachtbericht references

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
18 February 1944	... In diesem Raum hat sich die pommersche 12. Panzerdivision unter Führung des Generalleutnants Freiherr von Bodenhausen besonders bewährt.[5]	... In this area has the Pomeranian 12th Armored Division under the leadership of Lieutenant General Freiherr von Bodenhausen proven itself exceptionally.
28 December 1944 (Addendum)	In den harten Kämpfen der dritten Kurlandschlacht haben sich die norddeutsche 225. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Generalleutnant Risse und die pommersche 12. Panzerdivision unter Führung von Generalleutnant Freiherr von Bodenhausen durch hervorragende Standhaftigkeit ausgezeichnet.[6]	In tough combat of the third Courland battle, the North German 225th Infantry Division under the command of Lieutenant General Risse and the Pomeranian 12th Armored Division, led by Lieutenant General Freiherr von Bodenhausen, have shown outstanding steadfastness.

Notes

1. Regarding personal names: Freiherr is a former title (translated as Baron), which is now legally a part of the last name. The feminine forms are Freifrau and Freiin.
2. According to Wegmann on 15 December 1943.^[1]

References

Citations

1. Wegmann 2004, p. 135.
2. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 47.
3. Scherzer 2007, p. 228.
4. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 136.
5. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Volume 3, p. 38.
6. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Volume 3, p. 383.

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.
• Wegmann, Günter (2004). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil VIIIa: Panzertruppe Band 1: A–E [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part VIIIa: Panzer Force Volume 1: A–E] (in German). Bissendorf, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2322-1.
• 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

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• World War 2 Awards.com
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945
• Erpo Freiherr von Bodenhausen @ Axis Biographical Research at the Wayback Machine (archived January 27, 2011)