Karl Freiherr von Lersner
Karl Freiherr von Lersner | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 July 1898 Frankfurt am Main, Regierungsbezirk Wiesbaden, Province of Hesse-Nassau, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire |
| Died | 25 January 1943 (aged 44) |
| Allegiance | German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Imperial German Army Reichswehr Heer |
| Service years | 1916–43 |
| Rank | Generalmajor (Posthumously) |
| Unit | Leibgarde-Infanterie-Regiment (1. Großherzoglich Hessisches) Nr. 115 |
| Commands | Grenadier-Regiment 537 |
| Conflicts | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
| Spouse | Ilse Käthe Johanna Köstlin (m. 1926)[1] |
| Children | 3 |
| Other work | Graduate engineer (Dipl.-Ing.)[a] |
Karl Alexander Wolf Eduard Ferdinand Freiherr von Lersner[b] (1 July 1898 – 25 January 1943) was a highly decorated Generalmajor 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. Karl Freiherr von Lersner was killed on 25 January 1943 near Orel, Russia. He was posthumously promoted to Generalmajor and on 12 March 1943 was awarded the Knight's Cross.
Promotions
- May 1916 Kriegsfreiwilliger (War Volunteer)
- 10 February 1917 Fähnrich (Officer Cadet)
- 27 January 1918 Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)[2]
- 1922 received Reichswehr Rank Seniority (RDA) from 1 June 1917 (1)
- 1 April 1925 Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
- 1 April 1933 Hauptmann (Captain)
- 1 August 1936 Major
- 1 August 1939 Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel)
- 1 November 1941 Oberst (Colonel)
- 20 April 1943 Generalmajor (Major General)
Awards and decorations
- Iron Cross (1914), 2nd and 1st Class
- Hessian Bravery Medal (HT)
- Wound Badge (1918) in Black
- Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 with Swords
- Repetition Clasp 1939 to the Iron Cross 1914, 2nd and 1st Class
- Wound Badge (1939) in Silver
- Imperial Order of the Yoke and Arrows, Gold Medal on 19 September 1941
- Infantry Assault Badge in Silver
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 12 March 1943 (posthumously) as Oberst and commander of Grenadier-Regiment 537 [3]
Footnotes
- ^ In German an engineer's degree is called Diplom-Ingenieur (abbreviated Dipl.-Ing.)
- ^ Regarding personal names: Freiherr is a former title (translated as 'Baron'). In Germany since 1919, it forms part of family names. The feminine forms are Freifrau and Freiin.
References
- ^ Gothaisches Genealogisches Taschenbuch der Freiherrlichen Häuser, 1939, p. 299
- ^ Dienstalters-Liste der Offiziere der Königlich Preußischen Armee und des XIII. (Königlich Württembergischen) Armeekorps, 1919, p. 108
- ^ Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, p. 237
External links
- Karl Freiherr von Lersner @ Axis Biographical Research at the Wayback Machine (archived October 28, 2009)