Lorenz Harthan

Lorenz Harthan
Born	4 January 1913 Reuth
Died	7 January 1976 (aged 63) Erlangen
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1934–45
Rank	Oberfeldwebel
Unit	Panzeraufklärungs-Abteilung 11
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of France Invasion of Yugoslavia Operation Barbarossa Battle of Uman Battle of Kiev (1941) Battle of Moscow Battle of Kursk Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive Cherkassy Pocket
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Lorenz Harthan (4 January 1913 – 7 January 1976) was a highly decorated Oberfeldwebel 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 and was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He was also awarded the very rare Close Combat Clasp in Gold one of only 631 awards.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (20 April 1941)
  • 1st Class (27 July 1941)
• Wound Badge
  • in Black
  • in Silver
  • in Gold
• General Assault Badge
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze (?)^[1]
  • in Silver (?)^[1]
  • in Gold (September 1944)^[1]
• German Cross in Gold
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 12 June 1944 as Oberfeldwebel and pioneer Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 5./Panzeraufklärungs-Abteilung 11 ^[2]

References

Citations

1. Berger 2004, p. 168.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 178.

Bibliography

• Berger, Florian (2004). Ritterkreuzträger mit Nahkampfspange in Gold [Knight's Cross Bearers with the Close Combat Clasp in Gold] (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-3-7.
• 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.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com