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Koßmann, Karl-Richard (Generalmajor)

Date of birth:
March 28th, 1899 (Uelzen/Hannover, Germany)
Date of death:
June 10th, 1969 (Goslar/Lowersaxony, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Karl-Richard Kossmann (Koßmann) finally reached the rank of Generalmajor. He was a POW to the Soviets from May 10th, 1945 until January 7th, 1956.

Promotions:
1919: Fahnenjunker;
1921: Fähnrich;
April 1st, 1922: Leutnant;
February 1st, 1927: Oberleutnant;
April 1st, 1934: Hauptmann;
June 1st, 1938: Major (RDA: August 1st, 1937) ;
November 1st, 1940: Oberstleutnant im Generalstab;
June 1st, 1942: Oberst im Generalstab;
April 20th, 1945: Generalmajor.

Career:
1917: Kriegsfreiwilliger, kaiserliche Armee;
?: Füsilier-Regiment Nr. 73;
?: Freikorps;
1919: Reichswehr-Infanterie-Regiment 19;
1920: 16. Infanterie-Regiment;
1924: 2. Kompanie, 16. Infanterie-Regiment;
?: Adjutant, I. Bataillons, 16. Infanterie-Regiment;
1929: 2. Kompanie, 16. Infanterie-Regiment;
1930: 16. Kompanie, Ausbildungs-Bataillon, 16. Infanterie-Regiment;
1932: 2. Kompanie, 16. Infanterie-Regiment;
1934: Kriegsakademie;
April 15th, 1936: Generalstab des Heeres;
1937: Kompaniechef, Infanterie-Regiment 59;
November 10th, 1938: Lehrer, Kriegsakademie;
August 25th, 1939: Gruppenleiter, Stab, Generalquartiermeisters, OKH;
June 1940: Rüstungskommission;
January 15th, 1941: Ia, 15. Infanterie-Division;
January 15th, 1942: Chef des Generalstabes, VII. Armeekorps;
April 1st, 1942: Chef des Stabes, Militärbefehlshaber Frankreich;
June 1944: Kommandeur, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 74;
1945: Kommandeur, 10. Panzergrenadier-Division.

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Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
March 23rd, 1918
Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (1914)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
September 13th, 1918
Eisernes Kreuz 1.Klasse (1914)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
November 8th, 1918
Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (1918)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
May 15th, 1920
Kriegsverdienstkreuz am Kämpferband
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
December 29th, 1934
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  3.Klasse, 12 Jahre
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  2. Klasse, 18 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
Gruppenleiter, Generalstab des Heeres, Heer
Awarded on:
May 31st, 1940
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
Gruppenleiter, Generalstab des Heeres, Heer
Awarded on:
July 30th, 1940
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant im Generalstab (Lieutenant-colonel to the General Staff)
Unit:
Ia, I. Generalstabsoffizier, Stab, 15. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
April 14th, 1942
other sources give 17.04.1942
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant im Generalstab (Lieutenant-colonel to the General Staff)
Unit:
Ia, I. Generalstabsoffizier, Stab, 15. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
August 8th, 1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 74, 19. Panzer-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
March 23rd, 1945
At 07:00 on the 15.01.1945 the Soviets launched an attack with strong tank forces and mounted infantry. Conducted in the wake of a half-hour artillery barrage, the goal of this attack was to expand their deep penetration into the lines of the 6. Volksgrenadier-Division and achieve a breakthrough towards Jedlinek.

In response the Germans sent out the Panzergrenadier-Regiment 74 and the Panzer-Regiment 27 for a counterattack. Panzergrenadier elements were deployed in a trench network to the north of Bierwec while the entire Pz.Rgt. 27 arrived in the woods 300 metres south of Bierwec. At 07:30 the Pz.Gren.Rgt. 74’s SPW Bataillon set out for a frontal counterattack with the support of Sturmgeschütze. Shortly after this the remaining German Panzers and Sturmgeschütze launched a further counterattack from the left flank.

This powerful counterattack was too much to handle for the attacking Soviet forces, and they suffered heavy losses. In barely a half hour of combat the Germans claimed 51 enemy tanks destroyed. 29 of these were credited to the Pz.Gren.Rgt. 74 and its attached two Panzerjäger-Kompanien, while another 22 were credited to the Pz.Rgt. 27. The result was that the Soviets were forced to fall back, and they remained quiet in this frontline sector up until the evening.

Oberst Koßmann was the driving force behind this successful counterattack, and he was therefore awarded the Knight’s Cross after the battle.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

Photo