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Lauchert, von, Meinrad

Date of birth:
August 29th, 1905 (Potsdam/Province of Brandenburg, Germany)
Date of death:
December 4th, 1987 (Stuttgart/Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (Lieutenant)
Unit:
Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 5
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  3.Klasse, 12 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Panzer-Regiment 35 / 4. Panzer Division
Awarded on:
September 22nd, 1939
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Panzer-Regiment 35 / 4. Panzer Division
Awarded on:
October 23rd, 1939
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Panzer-Regiment 35 / 4. Panzer Division
Awarded on:
June 25th, 1940
Deutsches Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
July 30th, 1941
Anerkennungsurkunde des Oberbefehlshabers des Heeres
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
Kommandeur I.Abteilung/Panzer-Regiment 35 / 4. Panzer Division
Awarded on:
August 8th, 1941

179th Award.
At first as mentioning in the "Ehrenblatt des Heeres", the clasp to this award was received after the introduction of this.
Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
Kommandeur I./Panzer-Regiment 35 / 4. Panzer Division / XXIV. Panzer-Korps / Armeegruppe "Guderian" / Heeresgruppe Mitte
Awarded on:
September 8th, 1941
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
On the 19-20.07.1941 Major von Lauchert (at the time commanding his weak Panzer-Abteilung as well as subordinated riflemen) was able to prevent the breakthrough attempts of strong Soviet elements towards the south across the road Lobschanka—Propoisk despite the very trying circumstances involved. During that same time, when darkness fell, he attacked towards the vital Propoisk bridge with his Abteilung and defended this place until additional reinforcements could arrive. By these actions he was able to preserve this important supply route for both his Division and the Korps, and he was consequently awarded the Knight’s Cross.

472nd Award
Submitted on August 26th 1941.
Preliminary document and decoration on September 9th 1941 to Panzergruppe 2.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Awarded on:
September 1st, 1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
Panzer-Regiment "von Lauchert"
Awarded on:
September 5th, 1943

Award 438/1.
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment 15 / 11.Panzer Division / XXXXVII. Panzer-Korps / 8.Armee / Heeresgruppe Süd
Awarded on:
February 12th, 1944
Awarded for his leadership of Panzer-Regiment von Lauchert (which comprised the first two German Panther battalions) during Operation Citadel as well as his additional achievements commanding armoured units later in 1943. On the 01.08.1943 Lauchert took over control of Panzer-Regiment 15 (11. Panzer-Division), and with this unit he distinguished himself in the defensive battles at Dnepropetrovsk, Krivoi Rog and Kirovograd. A particularly noteworthy achievement took place on the 22.11.1943, when his Regiment destroyed 41 Soviet tanks near Alexandrija. On the following day this village and the crossing over the Ingulez here was recaptured.

396th Award.
Submitted on February 3rd 1944.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:
Führer der "Kampfgruppe Strachwitz"
Awarded on:
October 25th, 1944
Wehrmachtbericht
In the battles on the East Prussian border, two battle groups under the leadership of the Oak Leaves bearers Colonel Koetz and Colonel Lauchert have particularly distinguished themselves.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

Silver version.
Panzerkampfabzeichen (ohne Zahl)

Sources

  • Photo 1: Wilco Vermeer
  • Photo: Wilco Vermeer collection, the Netherlands
  • - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1998.
    - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht
    - Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, 2001
    - Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer, Elite of the Third Reich - The Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-45: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, England, 2003
    - Federl, C., Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Panzerdivisionen 1939-1945, VDM Heinz Nickel, Zweibrücken, Germany, 2000
    - Axis Biographical Research

Photo