Herbert Wagner (general)

Herbert Wagner
Born	19 January 1896 Stuttgart
Died	5 September 1968 (aged 72) Stuttgart
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1914–45
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	132. Infanterie-Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Siege of Leningrad Baltic Offensive (1944) Riga Offensive (1944) Courland Pocket
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Herbert Wagner (19 January 1896 – 5 September 1968) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant 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. Herbert Wagner was captured in May 1945 and was held until 1947.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 October 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of 132. Infanterie-Division^[1][2]
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 20 September 1944

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
20 September 1944 (addendum)	Bei den schweren Abwehrkämpfen in Lettland haben sich die schwäbische 205. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Generalleutnant von Mellenthin, die bayerisch-pfälzische 132. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Generalleutnant Wagner und die sächsische 24. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Oberst Schulz [sic] durch Angriffsschwung und Standfestigkeit hervorragend bewährt.[3]	In the heavy defensive battles in Latvia, the Swabian 205th Infantry Division under the command of Lieutenant-General von Mellenthin, the Bavarian-Palatinate 132nd Infantry Division under the command of Lieutenant-General Wagner and the Saxon 24th Infantry Division led by Colonel Schulz, have proven themselves excellently by showing attacking momentum and steadfastness.

References

Citations

1. Scherzer 2007, p. 764.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 434.
3. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Volume 3, p. 252.

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.
• 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

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht