Martin Unrein
Encyclopedia
Generalleutnant Martin Unrein (1 January 1901 – 22 January 1972) was a general officer of the German Army
during the Second World War.
He joined the re-established Reichswehr
in the 21st Infantry Regiment, then transferred to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, reaching Lieutenant in July 1922. In 1928 he became the adjutant of the 7th Cavalry Regiment, and held various regimental posts through the 1930s.
, which he commanded during the Battle of France. In September 1940, he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and assigned to OKW
.
On 15 September 1941, he was appointed to command Kradschützen-Abteilung 6 (6th Motorcycle Battalion) in the 6th Panzer Division. The battalion was almost destroyed fighting outside Moscow, and Unrein was court-martialled, but was completely rehabilitated and absolved of all blame. On 28 February, he was awarded the German Cross in Gold, and on 1 April assigned the command of Schützen-Regiment 4 (later Panzergrenadier-Regiment 4) in the 6th Panzer Division, being promoted to Colonel shortly thereafter. In July 1943, during the Battle of Kursk
, he commanded the entire division for two days, the divisional commander having died.
for his actions in the Fourth Battle of Kharkov. On 29 October of that year, he was appointed to command the 14th Panzer Division
, which was shortly to be sent to the Eastern Front
, and promoted to Major-General on 1 January 1944. On 26 June 1944, he was awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross, and on 1 July promoted to Lieutenant-General.
He was relieved of command of 14th Panzer Division on 5 September 1944 due to severe illness, but resumed command on 1 December, remaining with the division until 10 February 1945. On 11 February, he was promoted to command the III (Germanic) SS Panzer Corps
—a very unusual position for a Heer
officer, rather than a member of the Waffen SS, to hold—and remained with the Corps until 5 March.
On 4 April he was appointed to command the newly formed Clausewitz Panzer Division
, leading them until he was captured on 24 April by an American patrol.
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
during the Second World War.
Early career
He joined the German Army in the final stages of the First World War, and was posted to the 71st Infantry Regiment. He was wounded and taken prisoner in September 1918, and released in 1920.He joined the re-established Reichswehr
Reichswehr
The Reichswehr formed the military organisation of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when it was renamed the Wehrmacht ....
in the 21st Infantry Regiment, then transferred to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, reaching Lieutenant in July 1922. In 1928 he became the adjutant of the 7th Cavalry Regiment, and held various regimental posts through the 1930s.
Second World War
He was promoted to Major in 1938, and served on the staff of the XI Corps, with which he served during the invasion of Poland in 1939. In January 1940, he was appointed to the 268. Divisions-Aufklärungs-Abteilung, the reconnaissance unit of the 268th Infantry Division268th Infantry Division (Germany)
The 268. Infanterie-Division was a division of the Heer during the Second World War.The division was raised in August 1939, as part of the fourth mobilisation wave, commanded by Erich Straube....
, which he commanded during the Battle of France. In September 1940, he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and assigned to OKW
Oberkommando der Wehrmacht
The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht was part of the command structure of the armed forces of Nazi Germany during World War II.- Genesis :...
.
On 15 September 1941, he was appointed to command Kradschützen-Abteilung 6 (6th Motorcycle Battalion) in the 6th Panzer Division. The battalion was almost destroyed fighting outside Moscow, and Unrein was court-martialled, but was completely rehabilitated and absolved of all blame. On 28 February, he was awarded the German Cross in Gold, and on 1 April assigned the command of Schützen-Regiment 4 (later Panzergrenadier-Regiment 4) in the 6th Panzer Division, being promoted to Colonel shortly thereafter. In July 1943, during the Battle of Kursk
Battle of Kursk
The Battle of Kursk took place when German and Soviet forces confronted each other on the Eastern Front during World War II in the vicinity of the city of Kursk, in the Soviet Union in July and August 1943. It remains both the largest series of armored clashes, including the Battle of Prokhorovka,...
, he commanded the entire division for two days, the divisional commander having died.
Senior command
On 10 September 1943, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight'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...
for his actions in the Fourth Battle of Kharkov. On 29 October of that year, he was appointed to command the 14th Panzer Division
14th Panzer Division (Germany)
The German 14th Panzer Division was an armoured division in the German Army during World War II. It was created in 1940 by the conversion of the 4th Infantry Division.- Commanding officers :...
, which was shortly to be sent to the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
, and promoted to Major-General on 1 January 1944. On 26 June 1944, he was awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross, and on 1 July promoted to Lieutenant-General.
He was relieved of command of 14th Panzer Division on 5 September 1944 due to severe illness, but resumed command on 1 December, remaining with the division until 10 February 1945. On 11 February, he was promoted to command the III (Germanic) SS Panzer Corps
III (Germanic) SS Panzer Corps
The III SS Panzer Corps was a German Waffen-SS armoured corps which saw action on the Eastern Front during World War II. The The III (Germanic) SS Panzer Corps (III. (germanische) SS-Panzerkorps) was a German Waffen-SS armoured corps which saw action on the Eastern Front during World War II. The...
—a very unusual position for a Heer
Heer
Heer is German for "army". Generally, its use as "army" is not restricted to any particular country, so "das britische Heer" would mean "the British army".However, more specifically it can refer to:*An army of Germany:...
officer, rather than a member of the Waffen SS, to hold—and remained with the Corps until 5 March.
On 4 April he was appointed to command the newly formed Clausewitz Panzer Division
Panzer Division Clausewitz
Panzer-Division Clausewitz was a German panzer division during World War II, named for Carl von Clausewitz.It was formed in central Germany area at the beginning of April 1945 under the command of Martin Unrein, from the 233rd Panzergrenadier Division and also drawing Panzergrenadier troops from...
, leading them until he was captured on 24 April by an American patrol.