Rudolf Koch-Erpach
Encyclopedia
Rudolf Koch-Erpach was an officer in the German Army (Wehrmacht Heer) during World War II
.
Koch-Erpach was born in Munich
, and became a General of the Cavalry (General der Kavallerie). In 1939, he commanded the German 8th Infantry Division during the invasion of Poland
. On 23 September 1939, Koch-Erpach had the distinction of being captured by the Polish forces during the Battle of Krasnobrod
.
On 24 June 1940, after the Battle of France
and while still commanding the German 8th Infantry Division, Koch-Erpach was awarded a Knight's 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 experienced another command of brief duration. This time it was over the LVI Tank Corps
.
In March 1945 Koch-Erpach and his H.Q were encircled by the Red Army
near Oppeln. To bring him out of there, Ferdinand Schörner
gave orders to an Estonian officer , Colonel Alfons Rebane
from the 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, famous for breaking out of circles . Rebane picked 4 Estonian volunteers from his group and brought Koch-Erpach and his H.Q to safety with no casualties. For this Koch-Erpach suggested Rebane to be awarded
with Oak leaves to his Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
.
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
.
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...
.
Koch-Erpach was born in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, and became a General of the Cavalry (General der Kavallerie). In 1939, he commanded the German 8th Infantry Division during the invasion of Poland
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
. On 23 September 1939, Koch-Erpach had the distinction of being captured by the Polish forces during the Battle of Krasnobrod
Battle of Krasnobród
The Battle of Krasnobród took place on 23 September 1939 near the town of Krasnobród. It was fought between the forces of the Polish Army and the German Wehrmacht during the Invasion of Poland...
.
On 24 June 1940, after 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...
and while still commanding the German 8th Infantry Division, Koch-Erpach was awarded a Knight's Cross
Knight's Cross
Knight's Cross refers to a distinguishing grade or level of various orders that denotes bravery and leadership on the battlefield....
.
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
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
, Sudetenland
Sudetenland
Sudetenland is the German name used in English in the first half of the 20th century for the northern, southwest and western regions of Czechoslovakia inhabited mostly by ethnic Germans, specifically the border areas of Bohemia, Moravia, and those parts of Silesia being within Czechoslovakia.The...
, parts of Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
, and parts of southwestern 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...
. Military District VIII ceased operations in February 1945.
From 26 January 1945 to 10 April 1945, Koch-Erpach experienced another command of brief duration. This time it was over the LVI Tank Corps
LVI Panzer Corps
LVI Panzer Corps was a tank corps in the German Army during World War II.This corps was activated in February 1941 for the German invasion of the Soviet Union, which commenced on June 22, 1941...
.
In March 1945 Koch-Erpach and his H.Q were encircled by the Red Army
Red 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...
near Oppeln. To bring him out of there, Ferdinand Schörner
Ferdinand Schörner
Ferdinand Schörner was a General and later Field Marshal in the German Army during World War II.-Early life:Schörner was born in Munich, Bavaria...
gave orders to an Estonian officer , Colonel Alfons Rebane
Alfons Rebane
Alfons Vilhelm Robert Rebane, known simply as Alfons Rebane was an Estonian military commander. He was the most highly decorated Estonian military officer in the course of the Second World War, serving in various German military units against the armed forces of the Soviet Union.After World War...
from the 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, famous for breaking out of circles . Rebane picked 4 Estonian volunteers from his group and brought Koch-Erpach and his H.Q to safety with no casualties. For this Koch-Erpach suggested Rebane to be awarded
with Oak leaves to his 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...
.
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
Bad Boll
Bad Boll is a municipality in the district of Göppingen in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany.-History:Since the Middle Ages there has been a thermal spa there, at one time a hunting lodge of the Dukes of Württemberg. In the 19th Century, the spa was acquired by Pastor Johann Christoph...
.
Command history
- 1934 - 1935 Commanding Officer, 3rd Cavalry Brigade
- 1935 - 1940 General Officer Commanding, 8th Division
- 1940 - 1941 General Officer Commanding, LX Corps
- 1941 General Officer Commanding, XXXV Corps
- 1941 - 1942 Chief of Liaison Staff, Breslau
- 1942 - 1945 General Officer Commanding, Military District VIII
- 1945 General Officer Commanding, LVI Tank CorpsLVI Panzer CorpsLVI Panzer Corps was a tank corps in the German Army during World War II.This corps was activated in February 1941 for the German invasion of the Soviet Union, which commenced on June 22, 1941...
- 1945 Acting General Officer Commanding, 1st Army
Awards and decorations
- 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....
(1914)- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- Eiserner HalbmondGallipoli Star (Ottoman Empire)The Ottoman War Medal , better known as the Gallipoli Star, or the Iron Crescent was a military decoration of the Ottoman Empire which was instituted by the Sultan Mehmed Reshad V on 1 March 1915 for gallantry in battle...
- Cross of HonorCross 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...
- 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....
(1939)- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- War Merit CrossWar Merit CrossThe War Merit Cross was a decoration of Nazi Germany during the Second World War, which could be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel...
with Swords- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- 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 Silver (24 November 1944) - 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...
- Knight's Cross on 24 June 1940 as Generalleutnant and commander of 8 Infanterie-Division