Siegfried Rasp
Encyclopedia
Siegfried Rasp was a German
general
of infantry
, serving during World War II
. Born in Munich
, Rasp became an officer aspirant on September 6, 1915 and earned his commission as a Leutnant
on June 24, 1916 in the 1st Bavarian Infantry Regiment.
He was promoted to Oberst
in July 1941, Generalmajor
in November 1943, Generalleutnant
in April 1944, and General der Infanterie
in December 1944.
Rasp held several staff positions before commanding the following formations:
3. Gebirgsjäger-Division on August 26, 1943
335. Infanterie-Division on September 10, 1943
78. Sturm-Division on July 12, 1944
19. Armee on December 15, 1944
Korps Ems on April 2, 1945
An unusual aspect of Rasp's career is that he advanced directly from command of a division
to command of a field army
without first commanding an army corps. Captured at the end of the war, Rasp spent almost three years in a British POW camp in Münster
. Rasp died in 1968 in Garmisch.
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...
general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
of infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
, serving 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...
. 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...
, Rasp became an officer aspirant on September 6, 1915 and earned his commission as a Leutnant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
on June 24, 1916 in the 1st Bavarian Infantry Regiment.
He was promoted to Oberst
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...
in July 1941, Generalmajor
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
in November 1943, Generalleutnant
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in April 1944, and General der Infanterie
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
in December 1944.
Rasp held several staff positions before commanding the following formations:
3. Gebirgsjäger-Division on August 26, 1943
335. Infanterie-Division on September 10, 1943
78. Sturm-Division on July 12, 1944
19. Armee on December 15, 1944
Korps Ems on April 2, 1945
An unusual aspect of Rasp's career is that he advanced directly from command of a division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
to command of a field army
Field army
A Field Army, or Area Army, usually referred to simply as an Army, is a term used by many national military forces for a military formation superior to a corps and beneath an army group....
without first commanding an army corps. Captured at the end of the war, Rasp spent almost three years in a British POW camp in Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
. Rasp died in 1968 in Garmisch.