Horst Niemack

Horst Niemack

Horst Niemack (left) with Hasso von Manteuffel
Born (1909-03-10)10 March 1909
Hannover, Province of Hanover, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died 7 April 1992(1992-04-07) (aged 83)
Gross Hehlen, Celle, Lower Saxony, Germany
Allegiance
Service/branch Heer
Years of service 1927–45
Rank
Commands held Panzer-Lehr-Division
Battles/wars
Awards
Other work Bundeswehr

Horst Niemack (10 March 1909 – 7 April 1992) was a German general in the infantry, serving during World War II and in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Military career

Horst Niemack joined the military service on Easter 1927 after he had graduated from the Realgymnasium (secondary school) in Hanover with his Abitur (diploma). He joined the 18th Rider-Regiment (Reiter-Regiment 18) of the Reichswehr in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt and was promoted to the rank of Leutnant in 1931.

Horst Niemack's uniform (Deutsches Panzermuseum Munster)

Horst Niemack was severely wounded on 24 August 1944 when his leading Panzerspähwagen (Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle) was hit. He was rescued at the very last moment from the burning wreck and was immediately flown from the field hospital to Berlin. At the Charité Professor Ferdinand Sauerbruch managed to avoid amputation of his left arm.

Horst Niemack later took command of the Panzer Lehr Division on 10 January 1945, succeeding Generalleutnant Fritz Bayerlein. Until 30 April 1945, leading the division in its final battles. He is considered by some as a better division commander than his predecessor.

Post-war years

After the war, Horst Niemack devoted himself to his hobby, horseback riding and horse breeding. At the Olympic Games in 1956, 1960, 1964 and 1968, he accompanied the German dressage team as an authorized representative. From 1956 Niemack also served as chairman of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR).

Awards

Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
Sunday, 6 July 1941 Rittmeister Niemack, Führer einer Aufklärungsabteilung, die Oberleutnante Freiherr Maercken und Buchterkirch in einem Panzerregiment, sowie Oberleutnant Ritz in einem Schützenregiment zeichneten sich durch vorbildliche Tapferkeit aus.[6] Rotamaster Niemack, leader of a reconnaissance unit, the first lieutenants Freiherr Maercken and Buchterkirch in a tank regiment, and Lieutenant Ritz in a rifle regiment distinguished themselves through exemplary bravery.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 Thomas 1998, p. 120.
  2. 1 2 3 Scherzer 2007, p. 569.
  3. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 324.
  4. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 55.
  5. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 43.
  6. ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, p. 608.

Bibliography

  • Berger, Florian (1999). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges [With Oak Leaves and Swords. The Highest Decorated Soldiers of the Second World War] (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-0-6. 
  • 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. 
  • 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 1, 1. September 1939 bis 31. Dezember 1941 (in German). München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Generalleutnant Fritz Bayerlein		 Commander of Panzer-Lehr-Division
15 January 1945 – 3 April 1945 		Succeeded by
Oberst Paul Freiherr von Hauser
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