Werner von Erdmannsdorff

Summary

Werner von Erdmannsdorff (27 July 1891 – 5 June 1945) was a general in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He was married to Helene née von Tschirsky und Bögendorff (1895–1982).[1]

Werner von Erdmannsdorff
(left to right) Friedrich Stephan, Werner von Erdmannsdorff, and Heinz Kattner
Born(1891-07-26)26 July 1891
Bautzen, German Empire
Died5 June 1945(1945-06-05) (aged 53)
Ljubliana, Democratic Federal Yugoslavia
Cause of deathExecution by firing squad
Allegiance
Service/branchArmy
Years of service1910–1945
RankGeneral of the Infantry
Commands held
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross
RelationsGottfried von Erdmannsdorff (brother)

As last commander of the LXXXXI Army Corps in Yugoslavia, Erdmannsdorff surrendered to the British troops in May 1945.

He was extradited to Yugoslavia and executed without trial on 5 June 1945 by Yugoslav partisans in Ljubljana, alongside generals Gustav Fehn (XV Mountain Corps), Friedrich Stephan (104th Jäger Division) and Heinz Kattner (Feldkommandant of Sarajevo).

He was the older brother of general Gottfried von Erdmannsdorff, who himself would be hanged in Minsk in January 1946 for war crimes.[1]

Awards and decorations edit

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Adelige Häuser A Band XXVII, Band 132 der Gesamtreihe, C. A. Starke Verlag, Limburg (Lahn) 2003, p. 318–319
  2. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 147.

Bibliography edit

  • 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 Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
Military offices
Preceded by
Generalmajor Friedrich Herrlein
Commander of 18. Infanterie-Division (mot.)
15 December 1941 – 23 June 1943
Succeeded by
Renamed 18. Panzergrenadier-Division
Preceded by
Previously 18. Infanterie-Division (mot.)
Commander of 18. Panzergrenadier-Division
23 June 1943 – 9 August 1943
Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Karl Zutavern
Preceded by
Generalleutnant Ulrich Kleemann
Commander of LXXXXI. Armeekorps
9 October 1944 – 8 May 1945
Succeeded by
None