Hans Schlemmer

Dipl.-Ing. Johann "Hans" Schlemmer
Born	18 January 1893 Nesselwang
Died	26 June 1973 (aged 80) Bad Kreuznach
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1913–45
Rank	General der Gebirgstruppe
Commands held	134. Infanterie-Division LXXV. Armeekorps
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Moscow Battle of Kursk Italian Campaign Gothic Line Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Dipl.-Ing. Johann "Hans" Schlemmer^{[Notes 1]} (18 January 1893 – 26 June 1973) was a highly decorated General der Gebirgstruppe in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the LXXV. Armeekorps.

Biography

Hans Schlemmer was born on 18 January 1893 in Nesselwang, Bavaria.

He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. 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. Hans Schlemmer surrendered to Allied troops in Italy in 1945. Schlemmer was released in 1947.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (9 November 1914)^[1]
  • 1st Class (17 December 1916)^[1]
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (2 October 1939)^[1]
  • 1st Class (25 May 1940)^[1]
• Eastern Front Medal (18 August 1942)
• German Cross in Gold on 23 January 1942 as Oberst in the 134. Infanterie-Division^[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 21 April 1942 as Generalmajor and commander of 134. Infanterie-Division^[3]
  • 369th Oak Leaves on 18 January 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of 134. Infanterie-Division^[4]
• Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht (18 October 1943 and 9 February 1944)

Wehrmachtbericht references

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	English translation
18 October 1943	Die von Generalleutnant Schlemmer geführte sächsische 134. Infanteriedivision verdient für ihre hervorragende Haltung bei den schweren Kämpfen nordöstlich Gomel besondere Anerkennung.[5]	The Saxon 134th Infantry Division led by Lieutenant General Schlemmer, earned for their excellent attitude in the heavy fighting north-east of Gomel special recognition.
9 February 1944	Bei den schweren Abwehrkämpfen zwischen Pripjet und Beresina haben sich die unter Führung des Generals der Artillerie Weidling kämpfende 36, und 134. Infanteriedivision unter den Eichenlaubträgern Oberst Conrady und Generalleutnant Schlemmer hervorragend bewährt.[6]	In the heavy defensive battles between Pripyat and Berezina, have the divisions fighting under the command of General of Artillery Weidling's 36th, and 134th Infantry Division, under the Oak Leaves bearers Colonel Conrady and Lieutenant General Schlemmer, proved to be excellent.

Notes

1. In German an engineer's degree is called Diplom-Ingenieur (abbreviated Dipl.-Ing.)

References

Citations

1. Thomas 1998, p. 260.
2. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 408.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 307.
4. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 66.
5. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, p. 584.
6. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 30.

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.
• Schaulen, Fritjof (2005). Eichenlaubträger 1940 – 1945 Zeitgeschichte in Farbe III Radusch – Zwernemann [Oak Leaves Bearers 1940 – 1945 Contemporary History in Color III Radusch – Zwernemann] (in German). Selent, Germany: Pour le Mérite. ISBN 978-3-932381-22-5.
• 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 (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 2, 1 January 1942 to 31 December 1943] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.
• 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
• Hans Schlemmer @ Axis Biographical Research at the Wayback Machine (archived January 21, 2011)