Hermann von Oppeln-Bronikowski

Infobox Military Person
name=Hermann Leopold August von Oppeln-Bronikowski
lived=birth date|1899|1|2|df=y — death date and age|1966|9|19|1899|1|2|df=y


placeofbirth=Berlin
placeofdeath=Gaißach
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|German Empire German Empire (to 1918)
flagicon|Germany Weimar Republic (to 1933)
flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
serviceyears=1917 - 1945
branch=Heer
rank=Generalmajor
commands=
unit=20th Panzer Division
battles=World War I
World War II
awards= Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
laterwork=

Hermann Leopold August von Oppeln-Bronikowski (2 January 1899 – 19 September 1966) was a German Army officer and panzer ace. Oppeln-Bronikowski fought during World War I and World War II. At the 1936 Summer Olympics he won the Gold Medal in the team Dressage.

Biography

Oppeln-Bronikowski was born in Berlin. On 1 April 1912 he entered the Bensberg Cadet School near Cologne. Two years later he was transferred to the cadet institute at Groß-Lichterfelde near Berlin. On 23 March 1917 the cadet reported to the "Ulan Regiment "Prinz August von Württemberg" No. 10" at Züllichau in East Brandenburg. A few weeks later he was transferred from the reserve troop to the active regiment, which was stationed in Poland as part of the occupying force.

Oppeln-Bronikowski volunteered for front-line service in the infantry and was transferred to the Western Front to the "Infanterie-Regiment "Prinz Carl" Nr. 118" [ see also 56th Infantry Division] . He received the Iron Cross, Second Class and three months later became one of the youngest Leutnants ever to receive the Iron Cross, First Class. On 14 October 1918 he also received the Hessian Medal of Bravery.

After World War II he worked as a civilian advisor and helped setting up of the German Bundeswehr. He also worked for the Canadians as a riding instructor at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He died in Gaißach, in the district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen, Bavaria).

Awards

* Hessische Tapferkeitsmedaille (14 October 1918)
* Panzer Badge in Silver (2. Class)
* German Cross in Gold (7 August 1943)
* Wound Badge in Black
* Iron Cross 2. and 1. class
* Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
** Knight's Cross (1 January 1943)
** 536. Oak Leaves (28 July 1944)
** 142. Swords (17 April 1945)
* Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht

References

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* [http://www.waffenhq.de/biographien/biographien/oppeln.html von Oppeln-Bronikowski @ waffenHQ.de]
* [http://www.ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.de/Infanterie/O/Oppeln-Bronikowski-Hermann-von.htm von Oppeln-Bronikowski @ Die Ritterkreuzträger]
* [http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/O/OppelnBronikowskiHv.htm von Oppeln-Bronikowski @ Lexikon der Wehrmacht]
* Berger, Florian, "Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges". Selbstverlag Florian Berger, 2006. ISBN 3-9501307-0-5.
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
* Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit. "Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II". Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, 2001. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.