Albert Graf von der Goltz
Encyclopedia
Albert Emil Johannes Hermann Graf von der Goltz (24 June 1893 – 16 March 1944) was a German Oberst
der Reserve (Colonel
of the Reserves) during World War II
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
(today the area belongs to Poland
) in 1893. His father was Heinrich Ernst Albrecht Graf von der Goltz (1855–1923), descendant of an old noble family and a prominent member of the local society, and his mother was Else von Borkowski (1861–1951). Albert Graf von der Goltz had an older sister, Elisabeth Emmy Wanda Harriet Gräfin von der Goltz (1889–1978). It seems that the family estate (or Gut Czaycze), firstly mentioned in 1427, which Albert inherited after his father's death, was a typical Prussian estate, with two old manor houses (the older of which was burn down in 1922). With 251 inhabitants per 1885 census, the family estate hosted, among others, a distillery and a brickyard
,
Albert Graf von der Goltz entered army service in 1913, at the age of 20. As a noble, he was accepted into the 2nd Dragoon Regiment (full name: 1. Brandenburgische Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 2) an elite formation created in 1689. After all, the husband of his sister, Alexander (Axel) Graf von Schlieffen (1882–1918) was an officer in the regiment, something that apparently secured the Goltz's entrance as a Fahnenjunker. In this regiment, he received his commission to Leutnant in 1914, when World War I
broke out. He fought with distinction in the war, earning both classes (2nd and 1st) of the Iron Cross
for his merit. Alexander Graf von Schlieffen, honorary knight of the Johanittenorden, was killed in battle as a Rittmeister
of the reserves near Gouzeaucourt
on 19 September 1918.
After the capitulation of Germany
, Goltz, who apparently did not pursue a military career, was discharged from the army, got married in 1919 and returned to the family estate. In adherence to the Versailles Treaty, the former German Empire lost, among others, parts of Prussia to Poland. Heinrichsfelde was on the Polish side of the border, six miles from the new German territory. During the interwar years, Goltz struggled to preserve the German presence in the area. He set a personal example, giving birth to six children from 1920 to 1928. Thus, the number of the German families increased steadily. In addition, his estate hosted a school for both Polish and German children. He was described as a reliable first-line combatant of the Germans in Poland.
Eventually, he was elected chairman of the local chapter of the Nazi-orientated JdP (Jungdeutsche Partei in Polen, Young German Party in Poland
). As the anti-German demonstrations and pressure against local cultural life in Pomerania and elswhere were increasing, von der Goltz strongly protested against the arbitrary shutting of the local DiakonissenstationThe Diakonissenstation or Diakonissenhaus (Deaconess
station / house) was an ecclesiastical foundation devoted to charities, i.e. a kind of charitable organization
and the confiscation of its assets by the Polish authorities. As a result, on 17 February 1939, his estate in Czajcze was assaulted by approximately 250 Poles, and von der Goltz himself was physically threatened from the intruders. The police force arrived to restore order only after the dissolution of the demonstration. The friction between Poles and Germans in the region continued throughout 1939, fueled by the threats of Poland's invasion by Nazi Germany. In August 1939, after Goltz was drawn back into active service, leaving Heinrichsfelde, tension reached its peak. Rumors circulating among the population had it that Goltz intended to lead a Freikorps
unit across the border. In a provocative act that received some extent of publicity after the end of the war, some ethnic Germans set a part of the estate on fire, blaming the Poles for the incident. Goltz himself was unaware of this, until one of his daughters confessed it during the war.
with the rank of a Hauptmann
der Reserve ("der Reserve" is often abbreviated to "d.R.") to the 9th Infantry Regiment (9. Infanterie-Regiment), then part of the 23rd Infantry Division. The division crossed the German-Polish border in the area of Sępólno Krajeńskie
and the Regiment fought in Klonowo
, while later it was transported to East Prussia
and reached the city of Białystok. During the Battle of France
, the Regiment invaded Luxembourg
and Belgium
, took part in the bitter fighting in Charleville-Mézières
and in the Aisne Canal. After the capitulation of France it was tasked with security duties. During those campaigns, von der Goltz was awarded the Clasp
to both classes (2nd and 1st) of his World War I Iron Cross
es.
In October 1940 he was transferred, along with the 3rd Battalion of the Regiment, to the newly formed 415th Infantry Regiment of the 123rd Infantry Division in Brandenburg
and later that year, he took command of its 1st Battalion. Around April 1941, the division was moved to East Prussia so to participate in Operation Barbarossa
. He fought in Demyansk
during the heavy winter of 1941/42. For his successful leadership and his gallantry he was decorated with the renowned Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
on 7 May 1942.
On 15 October 1942 the 415th Infantry Regiment was converted to 415th Grenadier Regiment and von der Goltz assumed the command. The regiment continued to fight in the area of Demyansk and Kholm. In early 1943 followed his promotion to Oberstleutnant
der Reserve and in August of the same year, he was transferred to the 3rd Mountain Division of the German Sixth Army. There, he was named commander of the 138 Mountain Infantry Regiment (30 August 1943 - 6 September 1943), after, of the 144 Mountain Infantry Regiment (7 September 1943 - 12 September 1943) before being finally transferred to the 138 Mountain Infantry Regiment (from 12 September 1943 until his death). For his distinguished performance during the battles around Volnovakha
(August – September 1943) and the defensive battle south of Zaporizhia
(September 1943) - for the latter he earned a reference in the Wehrmachtbericht
-, he was awarded 316th the Oak Leaves (Eichenlaub) on the Knight's Cross on 2 November 1943. Almost a month after the award (1 December 1943), he was promoted to Oberst
der Reserve.
Albert Graf von der Goltz officially received the Oak Leaves from Adolf Hitler
in the ceremony held in the Wolf's Lair in Rastenburg, on 30 January 1944, along with Oberstleutnant
Karl Koetz
(374th Oak Leaves Recipient), Major
Josef-Georg Mulzer
(367th), Rittmeister
Andreas Thorey
(349th) and Leutnant d.R. Heinrich Boigk
(370th).
troops. 138 and 144 Mountain Infantry Regiments of the 3rd Mountain Division were ordered to hold a bridgehead
on Inhulets River
against Soviet counterattacks until the German forces could evacuate the area. Second most successful Austro
-German sniper
of the war and (possibly) co-recipient of the Knight's Cross, Josef Allerberger
, witnessed the Count's injury (and subsequent death) and recalls the incident on his memoirs.
On 14 March or (less likelyAllerberger notes that "On 15 March 1944, heavy rainfall occurred [in the area]." From there (the end of the chapter) until mentioning von der Goltz's death (at the start of the following chapter), date is not stated. Taking in account the fact that the time von der Goltz was killed it was raining - according to Allerberger - and with Goltz's death occurring on March 16, it is probably implied that von der Goltz was wounded on 15 March. But in contrast the majority of sources chronically place the event one day earlier.) 15, 1944, the units' main forces, including a convoy with several vehicles, were assembled near the Bug
river, waiting further orders to cross it. Allerberger, walking along with officers, including von der Goltz, claimed that "we considered ourselves safe from enemy attacks, due to the large numbers of soldiers stationed in the area." The commanders of the regiment, along with other commanding officers, were discussing about the organization of the area's defences under "cold rainfall". Suddenly, the command post was attacked by Soviet T-34
tank
s. One of the tanks opened fire with its machine gun
, injuring the Count's horse, while a German SPG (self-propelled gun
) was moving in position to fire. Instead of finding cover, like the other members of his team did, von der Goltz desperately tried to save his horse. Another Soviet tank fired a large caliber
shell
, causing some nearby vehicles to explode. The schrapnel caused by the explosion killed the horse and von der Goltz was seen being thrown on the ground "like he had been punched by an invisible fist". The SPG destroyed the tank and soon the attack was forced back. Von der Goltz managed to stand up, only to faint some moments later, after realizing "silently though in terror" that his right arm was ripped off
from his shoulder
. He was immediately transported to Odessa
, where he died in a Lazarett
from gangrene
on 16 March 1944.
) Isabelle Marie Luise "Isa" Knigge (1895–1986) on 23 January 1919 in Grünau
. They resided in Heinrichfelde.
The couple had six children; five daughters and a son:
His wife distinguished herself as a compassionate person not only during the war but in the following years as well. She worked as assistant sister in several hospitals and organized the evacuation of Heinrichsfelde and the flight of the German population to Mecklenburg
after the demise of her husband. Isa von der Goltz, along with her 22-year-old daughter Renate, a Red Cross sister, managed to lead the approximately 300-men and women convoy to the safety of the village of Güldenstein in Harmsdorf
(Schleswig-Holstein
). The fact that the von der Goltz family had friendly relations with other German nobles of Silesia helped provide temporary accommodation and shelter in their estates to the refugees during the march to the west. The family itself settled in northern Germany, as Czajcze was ultimately incorporated into post-war Poland. She died in 1986.
Her daughter, Isa, also took part in the organization of the flight. During the war years she worked in military hospitals and after the unconditional surrender of Germany she underwent nurse training at Flensburg
, after which she volunteered for humanistic service for two years (1954–1956) during the Korean War
. Later, she studied in the United States of America and went on - among others - to direct the Elsa-Brandström-Haus in Blankenese
, while for 18 years (1980–1998) held the position of the President of the Red Crosse's branch in Hamburg (DRK-Kreisverband Altona). In recognition of her activities, she was awarded one of the highest decorations of the International Red Cross, the Florence Nightingale Medal
and the 1996 Hamburger Bürgerpreis. She died in the morning of 17 May 2007, at the age of 85. Dirk Reimers, the president of the Red Cross department in Hamburg, remarked that "...her memory will remain in our mind as a great example".
Oberst
Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
der Reserve (Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of the Reserves) during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Early years, World War I and Interwar period
Albert Graf von der Goltz was born in the family estate of Heinrichsfelde, in the District of Wirsitz (Kreis Wirsitz), West PrussiaWest Prussia
West Prussia was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1773–1824 and 1878–1919/20 which was created out of the earlier Polish province of Royal Prussia...
(today the area belongs to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
) in 1893. His father was Heinrich Ernst Albrecht Graf von der Goltz (1855–1923), descendant of an old noble family and a prominent member of the local society, and his mother was Else von Borkowski (1861–1951). Albert Graf von der Goltz had an older sister, Elisabeth Emmy Wanda Harriet Gräfin von der Goltz (1889–1978). It seems that the family estate (or Gut Czaycze), firstly mentioned in 1427, which Albert inherited after his father's death, was a typical Prussian estate, with two old manor houses (the older of which was burn down in 1922). With 251 inhabitants per 1885 census, the family estate hosted, among others, a distillery and a brickyard
Brickyard
A brickyard is a place or yard where the earthen building material called bricks are made, fired, and stored, or sometimes sold or otherwise distributed from.-See also:...
,
Albert Graf von der Goltz entered army service in 1913, at the age of 20. As a noble, he was accepted into the 2nd Dragoon Regiment (full name: 1. Brandenburgische Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 2) an elite formation created in 1689. After all, the husband of his sister, Alexander (Axel) Graf von Schlieffen (1882–1918) was an officer in the regiment, something that apparently secured the Goltz's entrance as a Fahnenjunker. In this regiment, he received his commission to Leutnant in 1914, when World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
broke out. He fought with distinction in the war, earning both classes (2nd and 1st) of the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
for his merit. Alexander Graf von Schlieffen, honorary knight of the Johanittenorden, was killed in battle as a Rittmeister
Rittmeister
Rotamaster was the military rank of a commissioned cavalry officer in charge of a squadron , the equivalent of O3 or Captain, in the German-speaking armies, Austro-Hungarian, Polish-Lithuanian, Russian and some other states.The exact name of this rank maintains a variety of spellings in different...
of the reserves near Gouzeaucourt
Gouzeaucourt
-References:* -External links:*...
on 19 September 1918.
After the capitulation of Germany
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
, Goltz, who apparently did not pursue a military career, was discharged from the army, got married in 1919 and returned to the family estate. In adherence to the Versailles Treaty, the former German Empire lost, among others, parts of Prussia to Poland. Heinrichsfelde was on the Polish side of the border, six miles from the new German territory. During the interwar years, Goltz struggled to preserve the German presence in the area. He set a personal example, giving birth to six children from 1920 to 1928. Thus, the number of the German families increased steadily. In addition, his estate hosted a school for both Polish and German children. He was described as a reliable first-line combatant of the Germans in Poland.
Eventually, he was elected chairman of the local chapter of the Nazi-orientated JdP (Jungdeutsche Partei in Polen, Young German Party in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
). As the anti-German demonstrations and pressure against local cultural life in Pomerania and elswhere were increasing, von der Goltz strongly protested against the arbitrary shutting of the local DiakonissenstationThe Diakonissenstation or Diakonissenhaus (Deaconess
Deaconess
Deaconess is a non-clerical order in some Christian denominations which sees to the care of women in the community. That word comes from a Greek word diakonos as well as deacon, which means a servant or helper and occurs frequently in the Christian New Testament of the Bible. Deaconesses trace...
station / house) was an ecclesiastical foundation devoted to charities, i.e. a kind of charitable organization
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
and the confiscation of its assets by the Polish authorities. As a result, on 17 February 1939, his estate in Czajcze was assaulted by approximately 250 Poles, and von der Goltz himself was physically threatened from the intruders. The police force arrived to restore order only after the dissolution of the demonstration. The friction between Poles and Germans in the region continued throughout 1939, fueled by the threats of Poland's invasion by Nazi Germany. In August 1939, after Goltz was drawn back into active service, leaving Heinrichsfelde, tension reached its peak. Rumors circulating among the population had it that Goltz intended to lead a Freikorps
Freikorps
Freikorps are German volunteer military or paramilitary units. The term was originally applied to voluntary armies formed in German lands from the middle of the 18th century onwards. Between World War I and World War II the term was also used for the paramilitary organizations that arose during...
unit across the border. In a provocative act that received some extent of publicity after the end of the war, some ethnic Germans set a part of the estate on fire, blaming the Poles for the incident. Goltz himself was unaware of this, until one of his daughters confessed it during the war.
World War II
In August 1939, Goltz was called to the WehrmachtWehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
with the rank of a Hauptmann
Hauptmann
Hauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
der Reserve ("der Reserve" is often abbreviated to "d.R.") to the 9th Infantry Regiment (9. Infanterie-Regiment), then part of the 23rd Infantry Division. The division crossed the German-Polish border in the area of Sępólno Krajeńskie
Sepólno Krajenskie
Sępólno Krajeńskie is a town in Poland, in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, about 63 km northwest of Bydgoszcz. It is the capital of Sępólno County and has a population of 9,174 .-History:...
and the Regiment fought in Klonowo
Klonowo, Golub-Dobrzyn County
Klonowo is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Zbójno, within Golub-Dobrzyń County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-central Poland. It lies approximately south-west of Zbójno, south of Golub-Dobrzyń, and east of Toruń.-References:...
, while later it was transported to East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
and reached the city of Białystok. During the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
, the Regiment invaded Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, took part in the bitter fighting in Charleville-Mézières
Charleville-Mézières
Charleville-Mézières is a commune in northern France, capital of the Ardennes department in the Champagne-Ardenne region. Charleville-Mézières is located on the banks of the Meuse River.-History:...
and in the Aisne Canal. After the capitulation of France it was tasked with security duties. During those campaigns, von der Goltz was awarded the Clasp
Clasp to the Iron Cross
The Clasp to the Iron Cross was a metal medal clasp displayed on the uniforms of German Wehrmacht personnel who had been awarded the Iron Cross in World War I. It was displayed on the uniforms of many high ranking officers during World War II as most had also served in World War I...
to both classes (2nd and 1st) of his World War I Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
es.
In October 1940 he was transferred, along with the 3rd Battalion of the Regiment, to the newly formed 415th Infantry Regiment of the 123rd Infantry Division in Brandenburg
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
and later that year, he took command of its 1st Battalion. Around April 1941, the division was moved to East Prussia so to participate in Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
. He fought in Demyansk
Demyansk
Demyansk is an urban locality and the administrative center of Demyansky District of Novgorod Oblast, Russia, located along the Yavon River. Population:...
during the heavy winter of 1941/42. For his successful leadership and his gallantry he was decorated with the renowned Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
on 7 May 1942.
On 15 October 1942 the 415th Infantry Regiment was converted to 415th Grenadier Regiment and von der Goltz assumed the command. The regiment continued to fight in the area of Demyansk and Kholm. In early 1943 followed his promotion to Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
der Reserve and in August of the same year, he was transferred to the 3rd Mountain Division of the German Sixth Army. There, he was named commander of the 138 Mountain Infantry Regiment (30 August 1943 - 6 September 1943), after, of the 144 Mountain Infantry Regiment (7 September 1943 - 12 September 1943) before being finally transferred to the 138 Mountain Infantry Regiment (from 12 September 1943 until his death). For his distinguished performance during the battles around Volnovakha
Volnovakha
Volnovakha is a city in Donetsk Oblast of Ukraine. Population is 24,647 ....
(August – September 1943) and the defensive battle south of Zaporizhia
Zaporizhia
Zaporizhia or Zaporozhye [formerly Alexandrovsk ] is a city in southeastern Ukraine, situated on the banks of the Dnieper River. It is the administrative center of the Zaporizhia Oblast...
(September 1943) - for the latter he earned a reference in the Wehrmachtbericht
Wehrmachtbericht
The Wehrmachtbericht was a daily radio report on the Großdeutscher Rundfunk of Nazi Germany, published by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht regarding the military situation on all fronts of World War II....
-, he was awarded 316th the Oak Leaves (Eichenlaub) on the Knight's Cross on 2 November 1943. Almost a month after the award (1 December 1943), he was promoted to Oberst
Oberst
Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
der Reserve.
Albert Graf von der Goltz officially received the Oak Leaves from Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
in the ceremony held in the Wolf's Lair in Rastenburg, on 30 January 1944, along with Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
Karl Koetz
Karl Koetz
Karl Koetz was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or...
(374th Oak Leaves Recipient), Major
Major (Germany)
Major is a rank of the German military which dates back to the Middle Ages.It equates to Major in the British and US Armies, and is rated OF-3 in NATO.During World War II, the SS equivalent was Sturmbannführer....
Josef-Georg Mulzer
Josef-Georg Mulzer
Dr. jur. Josef-Georg MulzerIn German a Doctor of Law is abbreviated as Dr. iur. or Dr. jur. was a highly decorated Oberstleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
(367th), Rittmeister
Rittmeister
Rotamaster was the military rank of a commissioned cavalry officer in charge of a squadron , the equivalent of O3 or Captain, in the German-speaking armies, Austro-Hungarian, Polish-Lithuanian, Russian and some other states.The exact name of this rank maintains a variety of spellings in different...
Andreas Thorey
Andreas Thorey
Andreas Thorey was a highly decorated Major in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful...
(349th) and Leutnant d.R. Heinrich Boigk
Heinrich Boigk
Heinrich Boigk was a Leutnant der Reserves in the Wehrmacht during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
(370th).
Death
On March 1944 the German Sixth Army was threatened with encirclement from SovietRed Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
troops. 138 and 144 Mountain Infantry Regiments of the 3rd Mountain Division were ordered to hold a bridgehead
Bridgehead
A bridgehead is a High Middle Ages military term, which antedating the invention of cannons was in the original meaning expressly a referent term to the military fortification that protects the end of a bridge...
on Inhulets River
Inhulets River
The Inhulets or Ingulets is a river, a right tributary of the Dnieper River, which flows through Ukraine. It has a length of 549 km and a drainage basin of 14,870 km²....
against Soviet counterattacks until the German forces could evacuate the area. Second most successful Austro
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
-German sniper
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
of the war and (possibly) co-recipient of the Knight's Cross, Josef Allerberger
Josef Allerberger
Josef 'Sepp' Allerberger was a German sniper in the II Battalion of the 144th Gebirgsjäger Regiment of the 3rd Mountain Division on the Eastern Front, and was credited with 257 kills....
, witnessed the Count's injury (and subsequent death) and recalls the incident on his memoirs.
On 14 March or (less likelyAllerberger notes that "On 15 March 1944, heavy rainfall occurred [in the area]." From there (the end of the chapter) until mentioning von der Goltz's death (at the start of the following chapter), date is not stated. Taking in account the fact that the time von der Goltz was killed it was raining - according to Allerberger - and with Goltz's death occurring on March 16, it is probably implied that von der Goltz was wounded on 15 March. But in contrast the majority of sources chronically place the event one day earlier.) 15, 1944, the units' main forces, including a convoy with several vehicles, were assembled near the Bug
Southern Bug
The Southern Bug, also called Southern Buh), is a river located in Ukraine. The source of the river is in the west of Ukraine, in the Volyn-Podillia Upland, about 145 km from the Polish border, and flows southeasterly into the Bug Estuary through the southern steppes...
river, waiting further orders to cross it. Allerberger, walking along with officers, including von der Goltz, claimed that "we considered ourselves safe from enemy attacks, due to the large numbers of soldiers stationed in the area." The commanders of the regiment, along with other commanding officers, were discussing about the organization of the area's defences under "cold rainfall". Suddenly, the command post was attacked by Soviet T-34
T-34
The T-34 was a Soviet medium tank produced from 1940 to 1958. Although its armour and armament were surpassed by later tanks of the era, it has been often credited as the most effective, efficient and influential design of World War II...
tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
s. One of the tanks opened fire with its machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
, injuring the Count's horse, while a German SPG (self-propelled gun
Self-propelled gun
A self-propelled gun is form of self-propelled artillery, and in modern use is usually used to refer to artillery pieces such as howitzers....
) was moving in position to fire. Instead of finding cover, like the other members of his team did, von der Goltz desperately tried to save his horse. Another Soviet tank fired a large caliber
Caliber
In guns including firearms, caliber or calibre is the approximate internal diameter of the barrel in relation to the diameter of the projectile used in it....
shell
Shell (projectile)
A shell is a payload-carrying projectile, which, as opposed to shot, contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage sometimes includes large solid projectiles properly termed shot . Solid shot may contain a pyrotechnic compound if a tracer or spotting charge is used...
, causing some nearby vehicles to explode. The schrapnel caused by the explosion killed the horse and von der Goltz was seen being thrown on the ground "like he had been punched by an invisible fist". The SPG destroyed the tank and soon the attack was forced back. Von der Goltz managed to stand up, only to faint some moments later, after realizing "silently though in terror" that his right arm was ripped off
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
from his shoulder
Shoulder
The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle , the scapula , and the humerus as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder make up the shoulder joints. The major joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint, which...
. He was immediately transported to Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
, where he died in a Lazarett
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
from gangrene
Gangrene
Gangrene is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that arises when a considerable mass of body tissue dies . This may occur after an injury or infection, or in people suffering from any chronic health problem affecting blood circulation. The primary cause of gangrene is reduced blood...
on 16 March 1944.
Personal life
Albert Graf von der Goltz was married to Freiin (BaronessBaroness
Baroness is the female equivalent of the nobility title Baron.Baroness or The Baroness may also refer to:* Baroness , a metal band from Savannah, Georgia* Baroness , a fictional villain in the G.I...
) Isabelle Marie Luise "Isa" Knigge (1895–1986) on 23 January 1919 in Grünau
Grünau (Berlin)
Grünau is a German locality within the Berlin borough of Treptow-Köpenick. Until 2001 it was part of the former borough of Köpenick.-History:...
. They resided in Heinrichfelde.
The couple had six children; five daughters and a son:
- Gisela Elisabeth Clara Clementine Gräfin von der Goltz (b. 13 March 1920)
- Ingeborg Emilie Adele Irene Gräfin von der Goltz (b. 17 March 1921)
- Isa Maria Emma Helene Gräfin von der Goltz (7 February 1922–15 May 2007)
- Renate Elisabeth Hedwig Mara Gräfin von der Goltz (b. 14 February 1923)
- Heinrich Wilhelm Theodor Moritz Walter Graf von der Goltz (b. 2 August 1926)
- Helga Luise Hildegard Helene Ursula Gesa Gräfin von der Goltz (b. 29 October 1928)
His wife distinguished herself as a compassionate person not only during the war but in the following years as well. She worked as assistant sister in several hospitals and organized the evacuation of Heinrichsfelde and the flight of the German population to Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
after the demise of her husband. Isa von der Goltz, along with her 22-year-old daughter Renate, a Red Cross sister, managed to lead the approximately 300-men and women convoy to the safety of the village of Güldenstein in Harmsdorf
Harmsdorf
Harmsdorf is a municipality in the district of Ostholstein, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany....
(Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
). The fact that the von der Goltz family had friendly relations with other German nobles of Silesia helped provide temporary accommodation and shelter in their estates to the refugees during the march to the west. The family itself settled in northern Germany, as Czajcze was ultimately incorporated into post-war Poland. She died in 1986.
Her daughter, Isa, also took part in the organization of the flight. During the war years she worked in military hospitals and after the unconditional surrender of Germany she underwent nurse training at Flensburg
Flensburg
Flensburg is an independent town in the north of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Flensburg is the centre of the region of Southern Schleswig...
, after which she volunteered for humanistic service for two years (1954–1956) during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. Later, she studied in the United States of America and went on - among others - to direct the Elsa-Brandström-Haus in Blankenese
Blankenese
Blankenese is a former independent town, now a suburban quarter in the borough Altona in the western part of Hamburg . It is located on right bank of the Elbe river...
, while for 18 years (1980–1998) held the position of the President of the Red Crosse's branch in Hamburg (DRK-Kreisverband Altona). In recognition of her activities, she was awarded one of the highest decorations of the International Red Cross, the Florence Nightingale Medal
Florence Nightingale Medal
The Florence Nightingale Medal is a medal instituted in 1912 by the International Committee of the Red Cross. It is the highest international distinction a nurse can achieve and is awarded to nurses or nursing aides for "exceptional courage and devotion to the wounded, sick or disabled or to...
and the 1996 Hamburger Bürgerpreis. She died in the morning of 17 May 2007, at the age of 85. Dirk Reimers, the president of the Red Cross department in Hamburg, remarked that "...her memory will remain in our mind as a great example".
Awards
(Note: The question mark next to an award implies unknown date of award)- Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
2nd Class (During World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, exact date unknown) - Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
1st Class (During World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, exact date unknown) - Honour Cross for CombatantsCross of HonorThe Cross of Honor, also known as the Honor Cross or, popularly, the Hindenburg Cross, was a commemorative medal inaugurated on July 13, 1934 by Reichspräsident Paul von Hindenburg for those soldiers of Imperial Germany who fought in World War I...
(193_) - Clasp to the Iron CrossClasp to the Iron CrossThe Clasp to the Iron Cross was a metal medal clasp displayed on the uniforms of German Wehrmacht personnel who had been awarded the Iron Cross in World War I. It was displayed on the uniforms of many high ranking officers during World War II as most had also served in World War I...
(2nd ClassIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
) (1940) - Clasp to the Iron CrossClasp to the Iron CrossThe Clasp to the Iron Cross was a metal medal clasp displayed on the uniforms of German Wehrmacht personnel who had been awarded the Iron Cross in World War I. It was displayed on the uniforms of many high ranking officers during World War II as most had also served in World War I...
(1st ClassIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
) (1940) - Eastern Front MedalEastern Front MedalThe Eastern Front Medal, , more commonly known as the Ostmedaille was instituted on May 26, 1942 to mark service on the German Eastern Front during the period November 15, 1941 to April 15, 1942...
(ca. 1941/42) - Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
with Oak Leaves- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 7 May 1942 as MajorMajor (Germany)Major is a rank of the German military which dates back to the Middle Ages.It equates to Major in the British and US Armies, and is rated OF-3 in NATO.During World War II, the SS equivalent was Sturmbannführer....
der Reserve and commander of I./Infanterie-Regiment 415 - 316th Oak Leaves on 2 November 1943 as OberstleutnantOberstleutnantOberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
der Reserve and leader of Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 144
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 7 May 1942 as Major
- Wound BadgeWound BadgeWound Badge was a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Imperial German Army in World War I, the Reichswehr between the wars, and the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied...
in Gold (1944?) (possibly posthumously)No mention of a heavy wound that could justify the award of the highest class of the Wound Badge is available neither concernig World War I nor World War II. It must therefore be presumed that von der Goltz was awarded the Gold class of the medal after his death. - Mentioned in the WehrmachtberichtWehrmachtberichtThe Wehrmachtbericht was a daily radio report on the Großdeutscher Rundfunk of Nazi Germany, published by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht regarding the military situation on all fronts of World War II....
on 3 October 1943
Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht
| Date | Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording | Direct English translation |
|---|---|---|
| 3 October 1943 | Bei den Abwehrkämpfen südostwärts Saporoshje zeichneten sich das Jägerregiment 138 unter Führung des Oberstleutnants Graf von der Goltz, eine unter Führung von Major von Gaza stehende Panzergruppe sowie die Sturmgeschützabteilung 243 und die Heeres-Panzerjägerabteilung 721 besonders aus. | The Jägerregiment 138 under the leadership of Oberstleutnant Graf von der Goltz, a Panzer group under the command of Major von Gaza Waldemar von Gazen Waldemar von Gazen called Waldemar von Gaza was an Officer in the German Wehrmacht and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords during World War II... as well as Sturmgeschützabteilung 243 and the Heeres-Panzerjägerabteilung 721 distinguished themselves in the defensive battles southeast of Zaporizhia. |
Sources
- Bierschenk, Theodor: Die deutsche Volksgruppe in Polen 1934–1939. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
- Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943. München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3
- Dörr, Margarete (1998): »Wer die Zeit nicht miterlebt hat...« Frauenerfahrungen im Zweiten Weltkrieg und in den Jahren danach, vol. 1: Lebensgeschichten. Germany: Campus Verlag. ISBN 3593360950
- Eser, Ingo (2010): »Volk, Staat, Gott!«: Die deutsche Minderheit in Polen und ihr Schulwesen 1918-1939. Harrassowitz Verlag, 2010. ISBN 3447062339
- Przybycin, Michał / Przybycin, Jan / Margraf, Krzysztof / Klein, Joanna (2010): Opracowanie ekofizjograficzne dla północnej części Gminy Wysoka
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 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. Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Wacker, Albrecht (2007). Sniper on the Eastern Front: The Memoirs of Sepp Allerberger, Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipient. Eurobooks Editions. ISBN 978-960-87218-7-6
- Albert Graf von der Goltz. Article at Lexicon der Wehrmacht
- Albert Graf von der Goltz at Ritterkreuzträger.info (.pdf file)
- Albert Graf von der Goltz at Geneall.net
- DRK Landesverband Hamburg: Rotes Kreuz trauert um Isa Gräfin von der Goltz. Announcement at the Deutsches Rotes Kreuz Landesverband Hamburg e.V., 15 May 2007 . Retrieved on 18 December 2010.
- Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 138. Article at Lexicon der Wehrmacht
- Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 144. Article at Lexicon der Wehrmacht