Harald von Hirschfeld
| Harald von Hirschfeld | |
|---|---|
Von Hirschfeld as a Captain
|
|
| Born | 11 July 1912 Weimar |
| Died | 18 January 1945 (aged 32) Duklapaß |
| Allegiance |
 Nazi Germany
|
| Service/branch | Heer |
| Years of service | 1935–45 |
| Rank | Generalleutnant (posthumously) |
| Commands held | 78. Volksgrenadier-Division |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Harald Siegwart Hans Lutze von Hirschfeld (10 July 1912 – 18 January 1945) was a German Generalleutnant who commanded the 78.Volksgrenadier-Division during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Von Hirschfeld, the son of a Mecklenburg merchant, was largely educated and trained abroad, in South America, Spain, London, and Paris. On 23 October 1935, he voluntarily joined the mountain infantry regiment 98 in Kempten. In September 1943, as a colonel in the 1st Mountain Division, he played a major role in the defeat and subsequent massacre of the Italian Acqui Division in Cephalonia.
On 15 January 1945, he was promoted to Generalmajor (major general). On this day he was officially put in command of the 78th Sturm Division, which he had unofficially led since 26 September 1944. He was the Wehrmacht's youngest general officer. He dealt intensively with the training and guidance of his men and was often found in the front positions. He was severely injured in an aerial attack at the Dukla Pass and died en route to the field hospital on 18 January 1945 from shrapnel injuries. He was posthumously promoted to lieutenant general on 10 February 1945.
Von Hirschfeld was married to Sylvinia von Dönhoff, who later married the former fighter pilot Adolf Galland.
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