Paul Scheuerpflug

Paul Scheuerpflug
Born	3 July 1896 Netphen
Died	8 August 1945 (aged 49) Auschwitz
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1914–45
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	Infanterie-Regiment 116 68. Infantrie-Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Kamenets-Podolsky pocket Battle of Dukla Pass
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Paul Scheuerpflug (3 July 1896 – 8 August 1945) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 68th Infantry Division. 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. Paul Scheuerpflug was wounded 8 May 1945, and captured by Soviet troops. He died in a POW camp hospital at Auschwitz.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (22 September 1915)^[1]
  • 1st Class (27 January 1917)^[1]
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (25 June 1940)^[1]
  • 1st Class (4 July 1941)^[1]
• Eastern Front Medal
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 6 September 1942 as Oberst and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 116^[2]
  • 791st Oak Leaves on 16 March 1945 as Generalleutnant and commander of 68. Infanterie-Division^[3]
• Mentioned three times in the Wehrmachtbericht (10 November 1943, 14 December 1943, and 19 September 1944)

Wehrmachtbericht references

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
10 November 1943	Die brandenburgisch-westfälische 8. Panzerdivision unter Führung von Oberst Frölich und die brandenburgische 68. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Oberst Scheuerpflug verdienen für ihre hervorragenden kämpferischen Leistungen bei den schweren Kämpfen im Südabschnitt der Ostfront besondere Anerkennung.[4]	The Westphalian Brandenburg-8th Panzer Division, led by Colonel Frölich and the 68th Brandenburg Infantry Division, led by Colonel Scheuerpflug deserve for their outstanding combat achievements in the heavy fighting in the southern sector of the Eastern Front special recognition.
14 December 1943	Bei diesen Kämpfen haben sich die 1. thüringische Panzerdivision unter Generalleutnant Krüger und die brandenburgische 68. Infanteriedivision unter Oberst Scheuerpflug besonders bewährt.[5]	In these battles, the 1st Thuringian Armored Division under Lieutenant General Krüger, and the 68th Brandenburg Infantry Division under Colonel Scheuerpflug have particularly proven themselves.
19 September 1944 (addendum)	In der Abwehrschlacht bei Sanok und Krosno hat die brandenburgische 68. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Generalleutnant Scheuerpflug vorbildlich kämpfend wiederholte feindliche Durchbruchsversuche vereitelt und zahlreiche Panzer im Nahkampf vernichtet.[6]	In the defense battles at Sanok and Krosno, the 68th Brandenburg Infantry Division, led by Lieutenant General Scheuerpflug repeatedly repulsed by exemplary fighting the enemy break through attempts and destroyed many tanks in close combat.

References

Citations

1. Thomas 1998, p. 254.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 306.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 83.
4. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, p. 602.
5. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, p. 626.
6. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 250.

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.
• 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 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 2, 1 January 1942 to 31 December 1943] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.
• 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.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht