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Rudolf Koch-Erpach | |
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Born | 9 April 1886 Munich, Bavaria, German Empire |
Died | 27 November 1971(1971-11-27) (aged 85) Bad Boll |
Allegiance | German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
Service | German Army |
Years of service | 1904–45 |
Rank | General of the Cavalry |
Commands | 8th Jäger Division LVI Panzer Corps 1st Army |
Battles / wars | World War I World War II |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Rudolf Koch-Erpach (9 April 1886 – 28 November 1971) was a German general during World War II who commanded the LVI Panzer Corps and the 1st Army.
Biography
Koch-Erpach was born in Munich, and eventually rose to the rank of general. In 1939, he commanded the German 8th Infantry Division during the invasion of Poland. On 24 June 1940, after the Battle of France he was awarded a Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. From 1 November 1940 to 1 March 1941, Koch-Erpach commanded the German LX Corps. After a short break, he briefly commanded the XXXV Corps from 1 April 1941 to 1 May 1941.
Koch-Erpach commanded Military District VIII from 1 May 1942 to 26 January 1945. The headquarters for this military district was Breslau and the district included Silesia, Sudetenland, parts of Moravia, and parts of southwestern Poland. Military District VIII ceased operations in February 1945. From 26 January 1945 to 10 April 1945, Koch-Erpach commanded the LVI Panzer Corps. Later in 1945, Koch-Erpach was acting commander of the German 1st Army for two days before the war ended, from 6 May to 8 May. He died in Bad Boll.
Awards and decorations
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 24 June 1940 as Generalleutnant and commander of 8 Infanterie-Division
References
Citations
- Fellgiebel 2000, p. 217.
Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) . 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.
Military offices | ||
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Preceded byNone | Commander of 8. Infanterie-Division 15 October 1935 – 25 October 1940 |
Succeeded byGeneral der Infanterie Gustav Höhne |
Preceded byGeneral der Infanterie Max von Schenckendorff | Commander of XXXV Army Corps 1 April 1941 - 1 May 1941 |
Succeeded byGeneral der Artillerie Rudolf Kämpfe |
Preceded byGeneral der Infanterie Johannes Block | Commander of LVI Panzer Corps 26 January 1945 – 10 April 1945 |
Succeeded byGeneral der Artillerie Helmuth Weidling |
Preceded byGeneral der Infanterie Hermann Foertsch | Commander of 1. Armee 6 May 1945 – 8 May 1945 |
Succeeded byNone |
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients of the 8th Jäger Division (8th Infantry Division) | |
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Staff | |
Units |
|
Oak Leaves with the 383rd Infantry Division. Swords the 62nd Volksgrenadier Division. Oak Leaves with the 6th Infantry Division. |
- 1886 births
- 1971 deaths
- Military personnel from Munich
- Military personnel from the Kingdom of Bavaria
- German Army personnel of World War I
- German Army generals of World War II
- Generals of Cavalry (Wehrmacht)
- German prisoners of war in World War II held by Poland
- German prisoners of war in World War II held by the United States
- Recipients of the clasp to the Iron Cross, 1st class
- Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross