Branch: Kaiserliche Heer / Reichswehr Heer / Wehrmacht
Heer
Born: 1 March 1887 in Bautzen, Saxony, Germany.
Died: 22 November 1963 in Tegernsee, Bavaria Germany.
Ranks:
Generaloberst 1 January 1942
General der Panzertruppe 1
June 1940
Generalleutnant 1 October
1939
Generalmajor 1 April 1937
Oberst 1 February 1934
Oberstleutnant 1 October 1931
Major
Hauptmann 18 April 1916
Oberleutnant
Leutnant 14 August 1908
Fähnrich
Decorations:
Iron Cross 1914
2nd Class 14 September 1914
1st Class 8 August 1915
Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern with
Swords
Cross of Honor
Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle Bar
Iron Cross 1939
2nd Class 21 September 1939
1st Class 2 October 1939
Wound Badge in Black 1939
Eastern Front Medal
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross 27 October 1939
Oak Leaves 17 February 1942
Swords 26 May 1944
Commands:
4. Panzer-Division
Takes command on 1 September 1939
Ends command on 5 February 1940
3. Panzerarmee
Takes command on 5 October 1941
Ends command on 15 August 1944
Heeresgruppe Mitte
Takes command on 16 August 1944
Ends command on 1945
Other: Personnel
Articles:
Georg-Hans Reinhardt was born on 1 March 1887 and became a
German Generaloberst of World War II. Georg-Hans Reinhardt
was commandant of 4. Panzer-Division (4th Panzer Division)
from 1939 to 1940, 3. Panzerarmee (3rd Panzer Army) from 1941
to 1944, and commandant of Heeresgruppe Mitte (Army Group
Centre) in 1944 and 1945. Georg-Hans Reinhardt was born in
Bautzen, Saxony, Germany and fought during the First World
War in an infantry regiment.
Georg-Hans Reinhardt was Commandant of the 4. Panzer-Division
(4th Panzer Division) during the Polish campaign of September
1939. 4. Panzer-Division (4th Panzer Division) was at first
beat back in the two day battle of Mokra and Ostrowy on 1-2
September, but pushed through the Polish defences near Czestochowa.
4. Panzer-Division (4th Panzer Division) then advanced to
the outskirts of Warsaw, capital of Poland by 8 September
the first German force to reach the city. 4. Panzer-Division
(4th Panzer Division) the first unsupported attack on the
Warsaw failed, and the division was redeployed to help in
the Battle of the Bzura to the west.
After the Polish campaign, Georg-Hans Reinhardt was awarded
the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and promoted to General
der Panzertruppe.
During the Battle of France, Georg-Hans Reinhardt was commandant
of the XXXXI Panzerkorps, which was one of the three Panzerkorps
that pushed through the Ardennes and drove west to the sea
in May. For this success, Georg-Hans Reinhardt was promoted
to General der Panzertruppe on 1 June 1940.
Georg-Hans Reinhardt and XXXXI Panzerkorps (XLI Panzer Corps)were
assigned to take part in Operation Sea Lion, the projected
invasion of Great Britain. Georg-Hans Reinhardt's force was
to be in the first landing wave. Nevertheless, Operation Sea
Lion never happened.
During 1941, Georg-Hans Reinhardt and XXXXI Panzerkorps (XLI
Panzer Corps)were deployed on the Eastern Front for Operation
Barbarossa, the invasion of the Russia in June. Georg-Hans
Reinhardt force led the advance of Heeresgruppe Nord (Army
Group North) in October to the very outskirts of Leningrad.
In October Georg-Hans Reinhardt was given command of 3. Panzerarmee
(3rd Panzer Army) in Heeresgruppe Mitte (Army Group Centre).
3. Panzerarmee (3rd Panzer Army) then joined in the attack
on Moscow, capital of the soviet union. Although the initial
attack was successful, the attack bogged down in mud, and
was stopped in December by extreme cold and Russian reserves
just outside the city. 3. Panzerarmee (3rd Panzer Army) was
repulsed by Russian counterattacks during the winter of 1941
to 1942, but Georg-Hans Reinhardt was awarded Oak Leaves to
his Knight's Cross for his skilful defensive operations.
Early in 1942 until June 1944, 3. Panzerarmee (3rd Panzer
Army) held its ground around Vitebsk and Smolensk, repulsing
most Russian attacks and retreating only a short distance
in 1943. On 26 May 1944, Georg-Hans Reinhardt was awarded
Swords to his Knight's Cross for these relative success.
By June 1944, 3. Panzerarmee (3rd Panzer Army) and the rest
of Heeresgruppe Mitte (Army Group Centre) were broken by a
huge Russian attacks and pushed back into Poland and East
Prussia.
During 16 August 1944, Georg-Hans Reinhardt was given command
of Heeresgruppe Mitte (Army Group Centre). And in December,
the Russians renewed their attacks and drove Heeresgruppe
Mitte (Army Group Centre) out of Poland and back into northern
Prussia. Georg-Hans Reinhardt's broken forces could not stop
these overwhelming attacks, and this caused quarrels with
Adolf Hitler.
Georg-Hans Reinhardt retired from active duty in January 1945.
During June 1945, Georg-Hans Reinhardt was arrested by the
U. S. Army as a war criminal. In 1947, Georg-Hans Reinhardt
and 13 other top German commandants were tried before a United
States Military court in Nuremberg. Georg-Hans Reinhardt was
found guilty of murder and maltreatment of POWs, and of murder,
deportation, and hostagetaking of civilians in occupied territories.
Georg-Hans Reinhardt was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment,
but was released in 1952.
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