Willibald von Langermann und Erlencamp

Willibald von Langermann und Erlencamp (29 March 1890 – 3 October 1942) was a German general during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany.

Willibald von Langermann und Erlencamp
Langermann und Erlencamp in 1942
Born(1890-03-29)29 March 1890
Karlsruhe, Grand Duchy of Baden, German Empire
Died3 October 1942(1942-10-03) (aged 52) †
Storozhevoye, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Allegiance German Empire
 Weimar Republic
 Nazi Germany
Service/branchArmy (Wehrmacht)
Years of service1910–42
Rank General der Panzertruppe
Commands held4th Panzer Division
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Biography

Born in 1890, Erlencamp joined the 5th Dragoon Regiment of the Imperial German Army in 1910. From 1935, he commanded the 4th Cavalry Regiment before an appointment three years later as Higher Cavalry Officer I. He was later made inspector of cavalry and transport. After the commencement of World War II, he was appointed to command Special Administrative Staff 410. In March 1940 he was promoted to generalmajor, just before the Battle of France he was named commander of the 29th Motorized Infantry Division. He successfully led the division through the campaigns in Belgium and France[1] and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 15 August 1940.[2] He had received the Iron Cross, 1st and 2nd Classes, earlier in the year.[3]

On 7 September 1940, Erlencamp was given command of the 4th Panzer Division, which he led from the opening stages of Operation Barbarossa up until the closing stages of Operation Typhoon.[4] In January 1942 he was appointed as commander of the XXIV Panzer Corps. Within weeks, he received a promotion to generalleutnant and this was followed in mid-1942 by a further advance in rank to general der panzertruppe.[1] On 17 February 1942 he was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knights Cross.[5] He was killed in action on 3 October 1942 at Storoshewoje on the Middle Don ("in a foray in the front line").[6]

References
  1. Mitcham 2007, p. 62.
  2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 233.
  3. Thomas 1998, p. 8.
  4. Mitcham 2007, p. 60.
  5. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 58.
  6. Hartmann 2010, p. 187.

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.
  • Hartmann, Christian (2010). Front und militärisches Hinterland 1941/42 (Quellen und Darstellungen zur Zeitgeschichte, Band 75). Berlin, Germany: De Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-486-70226-2.
  • Mitcham, Samuel W. (2007). Panzer Legions: A Guide to the German Army Tank Divisions of WWII and Their Commanders. Mechanicsburg, PA, United States: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3353-3.
  • 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.
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