Mauritz Freiherr von Strachwitz

Mauritz Freiherr von Strachwitz
Born	12 December 1898 Bruschewitz
Died	10 December 1953 (aged 54) Camp Asbest, Sverdlovsk Oblast
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1916–45
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	87. Infanterie-Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Siege of Leningrad Tartu Offensive Courland Pocket
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Mauritz Freiherr von Strachwitz^[a] (12 December 1898 – 10 December 1953) 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. Mauritz Freiherr von Strachwitz was captured by Soviet forces in May 1945 in the Courland Pocket. He died on 10 December 1953 in Camp Asbest in the Sverdlovsk Oblast.

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
• Eastern Front Medal
• German Cross in Gold (21 May 1943)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 January 1945 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 87. Infanterie-Division^[1]
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (3 September 1944)

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
3 September 1944 (Addendum)	Im Raum von Dorpat hat sich die sächsisch-thüringische 87. Infanteriedivision unter Führung des Generalleutnants Freiherrn von Strachwitz mit 3 estnischen Bataillonen in schwierigen Sumpf- und Waldgelände in Angriff und Abwehr hervorragend geschlagen.[2]	The Saxon-Thuringian 87th Infantry Division, under the command of Lieutenant-General Freiherr von Strachwitz, with 3 Estonian battalions has fought well in attack and defense in the area of Dorpat in difficult marsh and woodland terrain.

Notes

• ^a Regarding personal names: Freiherr is a former title (translated as Baron), which is now legally a part of the last name. The feminine forms are Freifrau and Freiin.

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2003, p. 335.
2. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 230.

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.
• 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.