Ludwig Kirschner

Ludwig Kirschner
Born	12 June 1904 Bayreuth
Died	11 February 1945 (aged 40) Saybusch, Poland
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1936–45
Rank	Generalmajor
Commands held	320. Volksgrenadier-Division
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of France Invasion of Yugoslavia Operation Barbarossa Battle of Kiev (1941) Siege of Sevastopol (1941-1942) Battle of the Caucasus Lower Dnieper Offensive Vistula–Oder Offensive †
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Other work	Police officer

Ludwig Kirschner (12 June 1904 – 11 February 1945) was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 320. Volksgrenadier-Division. He was also 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. Ludwig Kirschner was killed on 11 February 1945 in Saybusch, Poland.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (31 December 1940)^[1]
  • 1st Class (14 September 1941)^[1]
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black
  • in Silver
  • in Gold
• War Merit Cross with Swords
  • 2nd Class
• Infantry Assault Badge
• Eastern Front Medal
• Crimea Shield
• Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (8 February 1942)^[1]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 18 January 1942 as Major and commander of the I./Infanterie-Regiment 436^[2]
  • 135th Oak Leaves on 28 October 1942 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 72^[3]

References

Citations

1. Thomas 1997, p. 366.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 257, 494.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 55.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht