Eberhard Rodt (4 December 1895 – 14 December 1979) was a German general during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany.
Eberhard Rodt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 4 December 1895 Munich, German Empire |
| Died | 14 December 1979 (aged 84) Munich, West Germany |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service | Army (Wehrmacht) |
| Rank | Generalleutnant |
| Commands | 22nd Panzer Division 15th Panzergrenadier Division |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
On 25 August 1941, he took an important role in the German capture of Dnipropetrovsk. Rodt, then a colonel within 13th Panzer Division, seized a Soviet pontoon bridge across the Dnieper river after Red Army forces had destroyed all fortified bridges across the river in the city. Rodt's ad hoc decision allowed German forces to establish a preliminary bridgehead on the east shore of the river, providing cover for the forces of the III Army Corps to begin their crossing.[1]
Awards and decorations
edit- Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class (30 July 1915) & 1st Class (10 August 1918)[2]
- Clasp to the Iron Cross 2nd Class (21 May 1940) & 1st Class (21 May 1940)[2]
- German Cross in Gold on 23 August 1942 as Oberst in the 22. Schützen-Brigade[3]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 25 June 1940 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Aufklärungs-Abteilung 25[4]
- Oak Leaves on 28 April 1945 as Generalleutnant and commander of 15. Panzergrenadier-Division[5]
References
editCitations
edit- ^ Wettstein, Adrian E. (2012). "Urban Warfare Doctrine on the Eastern Front". In Kay, Alex J.; Rutherford, Jeff; Stahel, David (eds.). Nazi Policy on the Eastern Front, 1941: Total War, Genocide, and Radicalization. University of Rochester Press. pp. 45–72, here: 55. ISBN 9781580464079.
- ^ a b Thomas 1998, p. 216.
- ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 381.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 293.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 84.
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.
- 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.
