Hitler’s Heroes During Operation Barbarossa by Jeremy Dixon (.ePUB)
File Size: 4 MB
Hitler’s Heroes During Operation Barbarossa by Jeremy Dixon
Requirements: .ePUB reader, 4 MB
Overview: Profiles the 178 generals awarded the Knight’s Cross during the early months of Hitler’s invasion of the Soviet Union.
This is a study of the officers who were promoted to the rank of general and who were also awarded the Knight’s Cross during the early period of Hitler’s assault upon the Soviet Union. This takes us from the great onslaught of Operation Barbarossa, through to Hitler’s decision to abandon his attempt to capture Moscow and adopt a temporary defensive stance due to the early onset of winter. Such was the scale of operations during these momentous first six months of the war on the Eastern Front there were endless opportunities for officers to display courage and leadership. This resulted in a total of 172 generals – twenty-five Generalmajors, fifty-five Generalleutnants, eighty-three full Generals, eight Generalobersts and one Generalfeldmarschall – being awarded the Knight’s Cross in this period alone.
One such recipient was General der Artillerie Erich Marcks who personally directed the fire of his guns against enemy bunkers at very close range. On the day he was notified of his award of the Knight’s Cross he was seriously wounded and had to have his left leg amputated. Despite this he returned to service in March 1942 and was later awarded the Knight’s Cross with Oakleaves.
Genre: Non-Fiction > History
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