Hans von Tettau

Hans von Tettau
Born	(1888-11-30)30 November 1888 Bautzen
Died	Mönchengladbach
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1909–45
Rank	General der Infanterie
Commands held	Infanterie-Regiment 101 24. Infanterie-Division Korpsgruppe von Tettau
Battles/wars	First World War Second World War Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Siege of Sevastopol Operation Market Garden Battle of Kolberg
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Other work	Textile salesman, author

Hans Bernhard Carl Otto von Tettau (30 November 1888 – 30 January 1956) was a decorated General of the Infantry in the Wehrmacht during the Second World War who held commands at the divisional and corps level. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. This decoration, especially the higher grade with Oak Leaves, was awarded to recognise battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Hans von Tettau was captured at the end of the war and was held as a prisoner until 1947. After his release, he became a textile salesman and wrote a book with General Kurt Versock called The History of the 24th Infantry Division.

Although much decorated, Tettau's reputation is debatable. Some German historians argue that he had little real military experience up to his countermeasures at the Battle of Arnhem in 1944, the Allied Operation Market Garden. Fellow generals spoke of Tettau -whose regular work in the army was more that of an inspector than of a commanding officer - in a negative way when he organised his defences in the Netherlands under the name of Westgruppe',' which was no formal army division at all. This was seen as a political move by Tettau to gain credit in Berlin.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (18 September 1914)
  • 1st Class (18 September 1915)
• Knight's Cross of the Saxony Military Merit Order 2nd Class with Swords (During World War I)
• Knight's Cross of the Albrecht Order 1st Class with Swords (During World War I)
• Knight's Cross of the Friedrich Order 2nd Class with Swords (During World War I)
• Knight's Cross of the Military Order of St. Henry (During World War I)
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (30 December 1934)
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (22 September 1939)
  • 1st Class (5 October 1939)
• Eastern Front Medal
• Crimea Shield
• German Cross in Gold on 5 May 1942 as Generalleutnant and commander of 24. Infanterie-Division
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 3 September 1942 as Generalleutnant and commander of 24. Infanterie-Division
  • 821st Oak Leaves on 5 April 1945 as Generalleutnant and commander of Korpsgruppe von Tettau

References

Bibliography

• Verhoef, CEHJ (2012)De slag om de Ginkelse heide bij Ede / druk Heruitgave 17 en 18 September 1944. ISBN 9789461531667

External links

• Hans von Tettau in the German National Library catalogue
• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht

Military offices
Preceded by Generalleutnant Justin von Obernitz	Commander of 24. Infanterie-Division 14 June 1940 – 23 February 1943	Succeeded by General der Gebirgstruppen Kurt Versock