Herbert Loch

Herbert Loch
Born	5 August 1886 Idar-Oberstein
Died	28 October 1976 (aged 90) Landau
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1905–45
Rank	General der Artillerie
Commands held	17. Infanterie-Division XXVIII. Armeekorps 18. Armee
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Annexation of Austria Invasion of Poland Battle of Łódź (1939) Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Siege of Leningrad
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Herbert Loch (5 August 1886 – 28 October 1976) was a highly decorated General der Artillerie in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the XXVIII. Corps. 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. Herbert Loch was captured in 1945 by American troops and was released in 1948

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Anschluss Medal
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Eastern Front Medal
• German Cross in Gold (22 April 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 16 June 1940 as Generalleutnant and commander of 17. Infanterie-Division^[1]
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (11 April 1944)

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
11 April 1944	Südlich Pleskau griffen die Sowjets auch gestern nicht wieder an. Seit dem 31. März 1944 haben hier deutsche Truppen unter dem Oberbefehl des Generals der Artillerie Loch und unter Führung von Generalleutnant Matzky die Durchbruchsversuche weit überlegener feindlicher Infanterie- und Panzerverbände vereitelt und dem Feind hohe Menschen- und Materialverluste zugefügt.[2]	The Soviets again did not attack south of Pskov yesterday. Since 31 March 1944, German troops under the overall command of General of Artillery Loch and led by Lieutenant General Matzky have prevented the breakthrough attempts of far superior enemy infantry and tank units and inflicted high human and material losses to the enemy.

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 241.
2. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 78.

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