Horst von Mellenthin

Horst von Mellenthin
Born	31 July 1898 Hanover
Died	8 January 1977 (aged 78) Wiesbaden
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1915–45
Rank	General der Artillerie
Commands held	23. Infanterie-Division 93. Infanterie-Division 205. Infanterie-Division XVI. Armeekorps XXXVIII. Panzerkorps XI. Armeekorps VIII. Armeekorps
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Siege of Leningrad Baltic Offensive (1944) Courland Pocket Upper Silesian Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Relations	Friedrich von Mellenthin (a younger brother, who was a Generalmajor in World War II)

Horst von Mellenthin (31 July 1898 – 8 January 1977) was a highly decorated General der Artillerie in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several corps. 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.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (22 August 1915)^[1]
  • 1st Class (29 May 1917)^[1]
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (15 July 1943)^[1]
  • 1st Class (26 July 1943)^[1]
• German Cross in Gold on 25 March 1944 as Generalmajor and commander of the 205. Infanterie-Division^[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 10 October 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 205. Infanterie-Division^[3][4]
  • 815th Oak Leaves on 4 April 1945 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 205. Infanterie-Division^[3][5]
• Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht (20 September 1944 and 27 December 1944)

Wehrmachtbericht references

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.[6]	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.
27 December 1944 (addendum)	Bei den schweren Abwehrkämpfen in Kurland haben sich die 205. Infanteriedivision unter Führung des Generalleutnants von Mellenthin und die 19. Freiwilligendivision unter SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Streckenbach hervorragend geschlagen.[7]	In the heavy defensive battles in Courland, the 205th Infantry Division under the leadership of Lieutenant-General von Mellenthin and the 19 voluntary Division under SS-Gruppenführer and Lieutenant General of the Waffen-SS Streckenbach fought magnificently.

References

Citations

1. Thomas 1998, p. 71.
2. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 303.
3. Scherzer 2007, p. 536.
4. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 307.
5. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 101.
6. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Volume 3, p. 252.
7. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Volume 3, p. 381.

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.
• 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.
• von Mellenthin, F.W. (Maj.Gen.) (1977). German Generals of World War II: As I Saw Them.
• 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
• Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 - 1945