Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Gross-Zauche und Camminetz

Infobox Military Person
name=Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Gross-Zauche und Camminetz
lived=birth date|1893|7|30|df=y — death date and age|1968|4|25|1893|7|30|df=y


caption=Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Gross-Zauche und Camminetz
placeofbirth=Groß Stein
placeofdeath=Winkl am Chiemsee
nickname= "Der Panzergraf"
allegiance=flagicon|German Empire German Empire (to 1918)
flagicon|Germany Weimar Republic (to 1933)
flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
branch=Heer
serviceyears=1914 - 1945
rank=Generalleutnant
commands= Panzerregiment "Großdeutschland", 1. Panzer Division
unit=
battles=World War II
awards="Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit dem Eichenlaub mit Schwertern und Brillanten"
laterwork=

Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Groß-Zauche und Camminetz [German title|Graf] (July 30, 1893 - April 25, 1968) was a German Army officer. Strachwitz saw action in World War I, but rose to fame for his command of armored forces in World War II.

Early life

Strachwitz was born in Groß Stein, Silesia. His family were members of the Silesian old nobility ("Uradel"), and held large estates in Upper Silesia, including the family "Schloss" at Groß Stein. According to family tradition, being firstborn and heir to the title Graf (Count) Strachwitz, he was christened Hyazinth after the 12th century Saint Hyazinth.

When he came of age, Strachwitz was sent to Berlin to partake in a Prussian military education. After several years intense training and study, Strachwitz was admitted to the élite Garde du Corps cavalry regiment. The Garde had been established by Prussian King Frederick the Great in 1740, and was considered the most prestigious posting in the Imperial German Army, it was even patroned by Emperor Wilhelm II.

Strachwitz continued his studies at the Lichterfelde Military Academy, placing an emphasis on sporting activities, particularly equestrian, fencing and track and field athletics. Strachwitz excelled as a sportsman, and became a prospective candidate for the 1916 Olympic Games. The outbreak of World War I destroyed this opportunity as Strachwitz, along with the rest of the Imperial Army, was mobilised and began the march west.

World War I - Interwar Period

In August 1914, Strachwitz was a Leutnant in the Garde. Only a few weeks into the campaign, Strachwitz had been awarded the Iron Cross both II and I class for bravery in action. In late 1914, he led a raid behind the French lines. After a week of wreaking havoc in the enemy rear, Strachwitz was captured by the French. As he was wearing civilian clothing, he was sentenced to death. The sentence was commuted, and Strachwitz was interned in a Prisoner of War camp in Southern France.

After the German capitulation, Strachwitz was repatriated, but he returned home to a Germany rife with civil unrest. Fearing a Communist revolution, Strachwitz joined the Upper Silesian Freikorps and was involved in several street battles against Communists. Strachwitz also remained in the Army, now called the Reichswehr. He served as a reserve officer in the German 7th Cavalry Regiment during the 1920 and early 1930s. In 1934, Strachwitz attended a demonstration of the new motorised and mechanised troops. He requested a transfer to the Panzer arm (Armor Branch), and in 1935 was sent to Eisenach to become a part of the still forming 2nd Panzer Regiment. The Regiment was to become the basis of the German 1st Panzer Division. Strachwitz, by now promoted to a "Major der Reserve" was to command the regiment's 1st Battalion.

Early World War II Career - "der Panzergraf"

After the outbreak of war in September 1939, Strachwitz served with the 1st Panzer Division throughout the campaigns in Poland and France and the Low Countries. Strachwitz next fought during Operation Marita, the campaign in the Balkans. During this campaign, Strachwitz took part in the advance on Belgrade, fighting alongside the Infanterie-Regiment "Großdeutschland". In the early war campaigns, Strachwitz fought well and by May 1941 he had been promoted to the rank of "Oberst der Reserve".

When several new armoured divisions were formed for the launch of Operation Barbarossa, Strachwitz was transferred with the 2nd Panzer Regiment and given command of the 1st Battalion, now part of the German 16th Panzer Division. On 22 June 1941, the German invasion of the Soviet Union was launched.

The 16th Panzer Division was ordered to reinforce a bridgehead over the Bug river held by the division's motorcycle battalion, then currently under heavy counter-attack. Strachwitz's battalion had been equipped with submersible tanks, designed for the abandoned invasion of England. At 0430 on 22 June, the tanks of Strachwitz's battalion, under fire from the opposite bank, drove into the river. After completely submerging, the tanks emerged on the far bank, and began engaging the enemy, soon clearing the area and consolidating the bridgehead. Strachwitz, charging his Panzer III ahead of his troops, engaged a Soviet supply convoy, destroying over three hundred soft-skinned vehicles and several Russian artillery batteries. Strachwitz was awarded the Knight's Cross for his part in this action.

Throughout the campaign, Strachwitz showed an immense talent for commanding the panzers, so much so that his troops nicknamed him "der Panzergraf" (the Armored Count). The 16th Panzer Division next formed a part of Friedrich Paulus' German Sixth Army, which was encircled near Stalingrad in late 1942. By now, Strachwitz had been promoted to command of the entire 2nd Panzer Regiment. During one engagement on the northern flank of the "Kessel", his unit destroyed 105 T-34s. Soon after this, Strachwitz was seriously wounded and flown out of the encirclement. For his actions, he was awarded the Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross.

Großdeutschland Panzer Regiment - Promotion to General

In January 1943, Strachwitz was given command of Panzerregiment "Großdeutschland" of the Panzergrenadier Division "Großdeutschland". He led the regiment when it took part in the Third Battle of Kharkov, fighting alongside SS-Gruppenführer Paul Hausser's II SS Panzer Corps. For his actions during these battles, Strachwitz was awarded the Swords to the Knight's Cross. In November 1943, Strachwitz left the "Großdeutschland" on grounds of ill-health, although tension between the division's commander Walter "Papa" Hoernlein is thought by many veterans to be the true reason for Strachwitz's departure. [History of the Panzerregiment Grossdeutschland refers to this in detail. (J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing)]

After a month's sick leave, Strachwitz was recalled to active duty and promoted to "Generalmajor der Reserve", and was placed in command of the 1st Panzer Division, though for a short period only. During this time, Strachwitz was also given the rank of SS-Brigadeführer und General der SSFact|date=June 2008. Strachwitz had become a member of the NSDAP before the war (Party membership number 1405562) and was also a member of the Allgemeine SS (SS membership number 82857). Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler typically gave high-profile people like Strachwitz high ranks in the SS for prestige and to keep these people in contact.

Final Battles - Post War Career

In late 1944, Strachwitz was returned to active duty, despite the fact that he was still suffering badly from the near fatal accident. He was promoted to "Generalleutnant der Reserve" in January 1945, and ordered to organise the formation of a Panzerjäger Brigade based at Bad Kudova. The Brigade, designated Panzerjäger-Brigade "Oberschlesien" was an ad-hoc formation of different units, and was, for the most part, poorly trained and equipped. As its designation suggested, the Brigade was tasked with defending Upper Silesia (Oberschlesien). Strachwitz commanded this formation in numerous desperate engagements, which destroyed hundreds of enemy tanks and vehicles. In April 1945, Strachwitz led his men in a successful breakout from a Russian encirclement in Czechoslovakia to the U.S. held region of Bavaria, where all surrendered to U.S. Army forces. During the war, Strachwitz had lost his younger son in combat on the eastern front, but his elder son though gravely wounded, survived the war. He had also a daughter. Shortly after his surrender, his wife died in a car accident, but he remarried and had two sons and two daughters with his second wife.

After spending a short time as a prisoner of war, Strachwitz was offered a position as advisor to the Syrian Armed Forces. He took this position, but the overthrow of the Royal Family in 1951 meant that Strachwitz had to flee back to West Germany. He settled on an estate in Winkl/Grabenstätt in Bavaria, where he lived quietly until his death in April 1968. The Bundeswehr provided an honour guard for his coffin, as a mark of respect. "Der Panzergraf" was lain to rest in the village of Grabenstätt.

Awards

* Panzer Badge in Gold (4. Class)
* German Cross in Gold (29 May 1943)
* Wound Badge in Gold
* Iron Cross 2. and 1. class
* Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
** Knight's Cross (25 August 1941)
** 144th Oak Leaves (13 November 1942)
** 27th Swords (28 March 1943)
** 11th Diamonds (15 April 1944)
* Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht

References

* [http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/Strachwitz.htm Strachwitz, Hyazinth Graf von Groß-Zauche und Camminetz] Lexikon-der-Wehrmacht German Language site.
* [http://www.achtungpanzer.com/gen11.htm Count Hyazinth Strachwitz von Gross-Zauche und Camminetz] - Achtung Panzer.com
* 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.