Hans Tröger (29 August 1896 – 21 January 1982) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several panzer divisions. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, awarded by Nazi Germany to recognise successful military leadership.
Hans Tröger | |
|---|---|
| Born | 29 August 1896 Plauen, Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire |
| Died | 21 January 1982 (aged 85) Schwangau, Bavaria, West Germany |
| Allegiance |  German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Service | Army |
| Years of service | 1915–44 |
| Rank | Generalleutnant |
| Commands | 27th Panzer Division 25th Panzer Division 13th Panzer Division |
| Battles / wars | World War I
|
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Biography
editBorn in 1896, Tröger entered the army of Imperial Germany in 1915 as a Fahnenjunker (officer cadet) and served as an engineer. After World War I, he remained in the military, serving in the Reichsheer. From 1935 he was in the Wehrmacht and was posted to the Office of Mobile Troops at the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (Armed Forces High Command), commonly known as OKW, for two years from 1938. Following the outbreak of World War II, he commanded of the 64th Motorcycle Battalion and then the 103rd Rifle Regiment.[1] On 11 November 1942, he was appointed commander of the 27th Panzer Division, which at the time engaged in fighting as it retreated from the Donets. In early 1943 he left the Eastern Front to take up an appointment as commander of the School for Panzer Troops, based in Germany.[2]
He returned to divisional command when posted to the 25th Panzer Division on 20 November 1943.[1] His new command was fighting on the Eastern Front around Kiev, in which it suffered heavy losses and further, significant, casualties were incurred in the retreat across Ukraine. In April 1944, it was transferred to Denmark for a refit[3] and Tröger, promoted to generalleutnant[Note 1] earlier that month,[5] took over command of the 13th Panzer Division.[1] In September, the division took part in the fighting around Khisinev but found itself cut off. It had to break out and while some personnel made it to the German lines, Tröger led one element into Bulgaria and was captured by Bulgarian troops.[6] After a period of internment, he was later handed over to the Soviet Union. He remained a prisoner of war until 1955.[1]
Awards and decorations
edit- Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class & 1st Class
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class & 1st Class
- German Cross in Gold (15 November 1941)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 4 May 1944 as generalmajor and commander of 25th Panzer Division[7]
Notes
edit- Footnotes
- ^ The rank of generalleutnant is equivalent to that of major general in the United States Army.[4]
- Citations
- ^ a b c d Mitcham 2007, pp. 116–117.
- ^ Mitcham 2007, p. 191.
- ^ Mitcham 2007, p. 180.
- ^ Mitcham 2007, p. 257.
- ^ Mitcham 2007, p. 183.
- ^ Mitcham 2007, pp. 113–114.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 346.
References
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.
- 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.
- 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.
