Heribert von Larisch
Encyclopedia
Heribert von Larisch was a high-ranking officer of the German
Wehrmacht
during World War II
. He was also a recipient of the renowned Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
, on 5 February 1914, he assigned as Cadet
to the 18th Dragoon Regiment and was promoted to Leutnant on 16 September 1914.
After the capitulation of the German Empire
in 1918, von Larisch was discharged from his military duties on 31 March 1920, as the Treaty of Versailles
enforced to Germany ordered that the new German Army (Reichswehr
) should be drastically downsized.
Nevertheless, under the leadership of the new Chancellor
of Germany, Adolf Hitler
, Germany started a massive rearmament. With military conscription obligatory, aiming to expand the German Armed Forces (renamed to Wehrmacht
), von Larisch was called back on 1 October 1933, now with the rank of Hauptmann
. From 1 October 1937 onwards he served as an instructor in the War School Hannover (Kriegsschule Hannover).
, von Larisch commanded the 1st Battalion of the 167th Infantry Regiment. Upon the successful outcome of the operation, von Larisch was named commander of the 3rd Regiment's Battalion on 10 January and was promoted to Oberstleutnant
on 1 February 1940. He participated with his battalion in the Invasion of France
and in that of the Soviet Union
.
On 30 June 1941, von Larisch went on to command the entire 440th Infantry Regiment and was promoted to Oberst
on 1 October. A year later, he was named leader of the 1st Fortress Brigade (1. Festungsbrigade or Festungsbrigade Kreta), but on 15 November he was transferred to the German Railway Security Staff Croatia (Deutscher Eisenbahn-Sicherungs-Stab Kroatien). From July to August 1943, he took a course for division leaders, and upon its completion he was commissioned commander of the 78. Sturm-Division on 1 November. On 15 February 1944 he took command of the 129. Infanterie-Division
, followed by his promotions to Generalmajor (1 April 1944) and Generalleutnant (October 1, 1944). While in command of the division, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
, the second highest military decoration of Nazi Germany on 26 December 1944.
in early March) until 24 April.
The following day, he was officially put into the army reserve until 15 June. In Krün
, he directed a seminar for regiment commanders. Upon hearing the news of Hitler's suicide
, he assembled the participants in a school room and made a somehow prophetic announcement, before dissolving it:
. It must though be noted that 20 March 1952, though rather implaysible, can be often seen as his date of death.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
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:...
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...
. He was also a recipient of 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...
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
World War I and Interwar Period
Heribert von Larisch was born in Freiburg im Breisgau in 1894. Shortly before the outbreak of World War IWorld 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...
, on 5 February 1914, he assigned as Cadet
Cadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
to the 18th Dragoon Regiment and was promoted to Leutnant on 16 September 1914.
After the capitulation of the German Empire
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...
in 1918, von Larisch was discharged from his military duties on 31 March 1920, as the Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
enforced to Germany ordered that the new German Army (Reichswehr
Reichswehr
The Reichswehr formed the military organisation of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when it was renamed the Wehrmacht ....
) should be drastically downsized.
Nevertheless, under the leadership of the new Chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
of Germany, 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...
, Germany started a massive rearmament. With military conscription obligatory, aiming to expand the German Armed Forces (renamed to Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
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:...
), von Larisch was called back on 1 October 1933, now with the rank of 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...
. From 1 October 1937 onwards he served as an instructor in the War School Hannover (Kriegsschule Hannover).
World War II
When Germany invaded Poland, marking the official outbreak of World War IIWorld 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...
, von Larisch commanded the 1st Battalion of the 167th Infantry Regiment. Upon the successful outcome of the operation, von Larisch was named commander of the 3rd Regiment's Battalion on 10 January and was promoted 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...
on 1 February 1940. He participated with his battalion in the Invasion 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...
and in that of the Soviet Union
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...
.
On 30 June 1941, von Larisch went on to command the entire 440th Infantry Regiment and 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...
on 1 October. A year later, he was named leader of the 1st Fortress Brigade (1. Festungsbrigade or Festungsbrigade Kreta), but on 15 November he was transferred to the German Railway Security Staff Croatia (Deutscher Eisenbahn-Sicherungs-Stab Kroatien). From July to August 1943, he took a course for division leaders, and upon its completion he was commissioned commander of the 78. Sturm-Division on 1 November. On 15 February 1944 he took command of the 129. Infanterie-Division
129th Infantry Division (Germany)
The 129th Infantry Division was an Infantry Division of the German Army during World War II.-History:...
, followed by his promotions to Generalmajor (1 April 1944) and Generalleutnant (October 1, 1944). While in command of the division, he was awarded the 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...
, the second highest military decoration of Nazi Germany on 26 December 1944.
Late war
With the situation for Germany quickly deteriorating, von Larisch was relieved from his command on 11 February 1945. On 15 March he was the commander of the Infantry School Döberitz (which was moved to GrafenwöhrGrafenwöhr
Grafenwöhr is a town in the district Neustadt , in the region of the Upper Palatinate in eastern Bavaria, Germany. It is widely known for the United States Army military installation and training area, called Grafenwöhr Training Area, located directly south and west of the town.- Early History:The...
in early March) until 24 April.
The following day, he was officially put into the army reserve until 15 June. In Krün
Krün
Krün is a municipality in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Bavaria, Germany....
, he directed a seminar for regiment commanders. Upon hearing the news of Hitler's suicide
Death of Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler committed suicide by gunshot on Monday, 30 April 1945 in his Führerbunker in Berlin. His wife Eva , committed suicide with him by ingesting cyanide...
, he assembled the participants in a school room and made a somehow prophetic announcement, before dissolving it:
Post-war
Heribert von Larisch was arrested by American troops on 15 June 1945. He was held in captivity for almost two years before his release on 1 July 1947. He died on 16 May 1972 in HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
. It must though be noted that 20 March 1952, though rather implaysible, can be often seen as his date of death.
Awards
- German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold on 1 September 1944 as Generalmajor and commander of the 129. Infanterie Division129th Infantry Division (Germany)The 129th Infantry Division was an Infantry Division of the German Army during World War II.-History:... - 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...
on 26 December 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 129. Infanterie Division - 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 12 September 1944
Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht
| Date | Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording | Direct English translation |
|---|---|---|
| 12 September 1944 | In der Schlacht am unteren Narew zeichnete sich die hessisch-thüringische 129. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Generalmajor von Larisch und die württembergische 5. Jägerdivision unter Führung von Generalleutnant Sixt durch Standfestigkeit und Angriffsschwung besonders aus. | The Hessian-Thuringian 129th infantry division under the leadership of Generalmajor von Larisch and the Württembergian 5th Jägerdivsion under the command of Generalleutnant Sixt distinguished themselves in the battle at the lower Narew with firmness and offensive drive. |
Books by Heribert von Larisch
- Larisch, Heribert von:Das 2. Grossherzogl. Mecklenburg. Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 18 im Weltkriege 1914-1918 (102nd volume of Erinnerungsblätter Deutscher Regimenter). G. Stalling, 1924. 256 pages
Sources
- Generalleutnant Heribert von Larisch from Axis Biographical Research
- Heribert von Larisch @ Axis History Forum
- ww2awards.com
- Generale des Heeres
- Das-Ritterkreuz.de
- Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 (in German). München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.