Gerhard Giesen

Gerhard Giesen
Born	29 January 1890 Zülshagen, German Empire
Died	5 February 1945 (aged 55) Loschen, East Prussia
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	?–1918 ?–1945
Rank	Oberst
Commands held	Grenadier-Regiment 123
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battles of Rzhev Battle of Kursk East Prussian Offensive†
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Gerhard Giesen (29 January 1890 – 5 February 1945) was a highly decorated Oberst in the Wehrmacht during World War II. 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. Gerhard Giesen was killed in action on 5 February 1945 during the East Prussian Offensive. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross on 11 March 1945.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Knight's Cross of the House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (23 September 1939)
  • 1st Class (4 October 1939)
• Infantry Assault Badge
• Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (5 November 1944)
• German Cross in Gold (1 December 1943)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 11 March 1945 as Oberst and commander of Grenadier-Regiment 123^[1]

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 163.

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.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945