Martin Unrein

Martin Unrein
Born	1 January 1901 Weimar
Died	22 January 1972 (aged 71) Munich
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1918–45
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	14th Panzer Division III (Germanic) SS Panzer Corps Clausewitz Panzer Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Generalleutnant Martin Friedrich Karl Unrein (1 January 1901 – 22 January 1972) was a general officer of the German Army during the Second World War.

Early career

He joined the German Army in the final stages of the First World War, and was posted to the 71st Infantry Regiment. He was wounded and taken prisoner in September 1918, and released in 1920.

He joined the re-established Reichswehr in the 21st Infantry Regiment, then transferred to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, reaching Lieutenant in July 1922. In 1928 he became the adjutant of the 7th Cavalry Regiment, and held various regimental posts through the 1930s.

Second World War

He was promoted to Major in 1938, and served on the staff of the XI Corps, with which he served during the invasion of Poland in 1939. In January 1940, he was appointed to the 268. Divisions-Aufklärungs-Abteilung, the reconnaissance unit of the 268th Infantry Division, which he commanded during the Battle of France. In September 1940, he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and assigned to OKW.

On 15 September 1941, he was appointed to command Kradschützen-Abteilung 6 (6th Motorcycle Battalion) in the 6th Panzer Division. The battalion was almost destroyed fighting outside Moscow, and Unrein was court-martialled, but was completely rehabilitated and absolved of all blame. On 28 February, he was awarded the German Cross in Gold, and on 1 April assigned the command of Schützen-Regiment 4 (later Panzergrenadier-Regiment 4) in the 6th Panzer Division, being promoted to Colonel shortly thereafter. In July 1943, during the Battle of Kursk, he commanded the entire division for two days, the divisional commander having died.

Senior command

On 10 September 1943, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his actions in the Fourth Battle of Kharkov. On 29 October of that year, he was appointed to command the 14th Panzer Division, which was shortly to be sent to the Eastern Front, and promoted to Major-General on 1 January 1944. On 26 June 1944, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, and on 1 July promoted to Lieutenant-General.

He was relieved of command of 14th Panzer Division on 5 September 1944 due to severe illness, but resumed command on 1 December, remaining with the division until 10 February 1945. On 11 February, he was promoted to command the III (Germanic) SS Panzer Corps—a very unusual position for a Heer officer, rather than a member of the Waffen SS, to hold—and remained with the Corps until 5 March.

On 4 April he was appointed to command the newly formed Clausewitz Panzer Division, leading them until he was captured on 24 April by an American patrol.

After the war Martin Unrein served in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel as Commander of the 3836th Labor Service Center of the US Army in Becelaere Kaserne in Esslingen am Neckar during the 1950 years.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (5 September 1918)^[1]
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
  • in Silver
• Cross of Honor (3 November 1934)
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (12 October 1939)^[1]
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 1st Class (4 July 1940)^[1]
• Panzer Badge
• Eastern Front Medal
• Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (18 April 1943)^[1]
• German Cross in Gold on 28 February 1942 as Oberstleutnant in Kradschützen-Bataillon 6^[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 10 September 1943 as Oberst and commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 4
  • 515th Oak Leaves on 26 June 1944 as Generalmajor and commander of 14. Panzer-Division
• Ärmelband Kurland

References

Citations

1. Thomas 1998, p. 397.
2. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 484.

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.