Kreighshoer
Active member
one of the finest panzerleaders of the german heer was hyazinth graf strachwitz von groß-zauche und chaminetz - together with kurt knispel my most favorite tanker of ww2!
von strachwitz was born in groß stein in silesia on 30. july 1893 to a family of silesian elder nobility with a long military tradition!
the family crest:
von strachwitz joined the imperial german army garde de corps after having been cadet to the berlin military academy! he continued his studies with the lichterfelde academy focusing on sports. him being a well trained sportsman helped him to overcome several injuries he suffered in both world wars!
in world war 1 - late 1914 to be more precise - von strachwitz led a raid company behind enemy lines in civilian clothing and taken prisoner of war! the fact that he and his men were wearing civilian clothing led to him being sentenced to death what later was commuted to forced labor in cayenne! he was lucky that the transport didn't take place and he was incarcerated on the île de rè instead. in 1918 members of the red cross found him in desolate mental and physical condition in the prison of carcassonne and he was transferred back to germany immediately!
in world war 2 he took part in the invasion of poland and france and being promoted to major he saw action in operation barbarossa from the very first day on. he was awarded the knight's cross of the iron cross on august 28th 1941 for his exploits in the first days of the invasion of the ussr. being promoted to ltd colonel he earned the oak leaves on november 13th 1942 and together with his crew was the spearhead of 6th army and one of the first to enter stalingrad. fighting on the northern front of the stalingrad pocket, his unit destroyed 105 soviet tanks without loss - he was seriously wounded and lucky enough to be evacuated before the stalingrad pocket collapsed.
his bravery and excellent exploits made his name feared within the red army and he was awarded the swords to the oak leaves on march 28th 1943 for his actions in the battle of bjelgorod where his regiment knocked out 36 soviet tanks within shortest time!
von strachwitz's battle credo was "do not slap the enemy with the flat hand but hit him with a fist!"
e.g. he once ordered all his tanks to dig in and hide as good as possible and to keep absolutely quiet - no radio communication. only after he would have done the first shot all tanks should let loose hell on an enemy tank column they were ambushing! the whole of the enemy tank column was completely eradicated!
being promoted to generalmajor on april 1st 1944 he was awarded the diamonds to the swords of the oak leaves on april 15th 1944!
in late august 1944 von strachwitz was wounded the 14th (!) time! he recuperated his severe wounds including a head fracture only due to his excellent physical condition as a sportsman!
shortly before the war ended he was promoted to generalleutnant and fought his way to the west to be taken prisoner of war by the americans!
he had lost his youngest son in the war and his eldest son was confined to his bed. as if this wasn't enough his wife was run over by an u.s. army truck in an accident and killed!
military resistance:
von strachwitz got into contact with the military resistance in early 1943 and volunteered to arrest or to shoot hitler during his visit to poltawa. this plot wasn't successful since hitler decided to change his travel plans and flew to saporoschje instead!
after war:
von strachwitz later went to syria and worked as military advisor to the syrian government! he died at april 25th 1968!
von strachwitz was born in groß stein in silesia on 30. july 1893 to a family of silesian elder nobility with a long military tradition!
the family crest:
von strachwitz joined the imperial german army garde de corps after having been cadet to the berlin military academy! he continued his studies with the lichterfelde academy focusing on sports. him being a well trained sportsman helped him to overcome several injuries he suffered in both world wars!
in world war 1 - late 1914 to be more precise - von strachwitz led a raid company behind enemy lines in civilian clothing and taken prisoner of war! the fact that he and his men were wearing civilian clothing led to him being sentenced to death what later was commuted to forced labor in cayenne! he was lucky that the transport didn't take place and he was incarcerated on the île de rè instead. in 1918 members of the red cross found him in desolate mental and physical condition in the prison of carcassonne and he was transferred back to germany immediately!
in world war 2 he took part in the invasion of poland and france and being promoted to major he saw action in operation barbarossa from the very first day on. he was awarded the knight's cross of the iron cross on august 28th 1941 for his exploits in the first days of the invasion of the ussr. being promoted to ltd colonel he earned the oak leaves on november 13th 1942 and together with his crew was the spearhead of 6th army and one of the first to enter stalingrad. fighting on the northern front of the stalingrad pocket, his unit destroyed 105 soviet tanks without loss - he was seriously wounded and lucky enough to be evacuated before the stalingrad pocket collapsed.
his bravery and excellent exploits made his name feared within the red army and he was awarded the swords to the oak leaves on march 28th 1943 for his actions in the battle of bjelgorod where his regiment knocked out 36 soviet tanks within shortest time!
von strachwitz's battle credo was "do not slap the enemy with the flat hand but hit him with a fist!"
e.g. he once ordered all his tanks to dig in and hide as good as possible and to keep absolutely quiet - no radio communication. only after he would have done the first shot all tanks should let loose hell on an enemy tank column they were ambushing! the whole of the enemy tank column was completely eradicated!
being promoted to generalmajor on april 1st 1944 he was awarded the diamonds to the swords of the oak leaves on april 15th 1944!
in late august 1944 von strachwitz was wounded the 14th (!) time! he recuperated his severe wounds including a head fracture only due to his excellent physical condition as a sportsman!
shortly before the war ended he was promoted to generalleutnant and fought his way to the west to be taken prisoner of war by the americans!
he had lost his youngest son in the war and his eldest son was confined to his bed. as if this wasn't enough his wife was run over by an u.s. army truck in an accident and killed!
military resistance:
von strachwitz got into contact with the military resistance in early 1943 and volunteered to arrest or to shoot hitler during his visit to poltawa. this plot wasn't successful since hitler decided to change his travel plans and flew to saporoschje instead!
after war:
von strachwitz later went to syria and worked as military advisor to the syrian government! he died at april 25th 1968!
