Date of birth:

March 27th, 1895 (Marienburg/Eastern Prussia, Germany)

Date of death:

March 7th, 1971 (Wiesbaden/Hesse, Germany)

Nationality:

German

Promotions:
11.07.1915: Leutnant d.R.
22.05.1920: Leutnant d.SiPo
14.06.1920: Oberleutnant d.Pol.
01.04.1925: Hauptmann d. Pol.
01.04.1934: Major d. Pol.
01.10.1938: Oberstleutnant (3)
01.09.1941: Oberst 01.09.1941 (38)
01.06.1943: Generalmajor 01.06.1943 (17)
01.01.1944: Generalleutnant 01.01.1944 (14b)
01.03.1945: General der Infanterie 01.03.1945

Career:
11.07.1915: Kompanieoffizier - 4./ Infanterie-Regiment 341
19.08.1915: stv. Kompanieführer - Infanterie-Regiment 341
29.02.1916: stv. Bataillonsadjutant - Infanterie-Regiment 341
00.00.1917: Ordonnanz-Offizier - Stab/Infanterie-Regiment 341
00.00.1918: Ordonnanz-Offizier - Divisionsstab
Kommandant Divisions-Stabsquartier
Adjutant Grenzschutz Ost
00.00.1921: Staatspolizei
20.08.1923-20.12.1923: Lehrgang/ Polizeischule Eiche
26.09.1924-31.10.1924: Lehrgang für Leibesübungen Spandau
01.10.1933: Stab/ Abteilung Ia/ L.I. Brandenburg
08.01.1934-09.03.1934: Führerlehrgang B/ Höhere Polizeischule Eiche
31.03.1934-15.10.1935:2. Adjutant - Stab/ Abteilung IIa/ L.I. Brandenburg
15.10.1935-27.02.1937: Chef - 1./ Infanterie-Regiment 18
27.02.1937: Kommandeur - I./ Infanterie-Regiment 105
22.11.1937-04.12.1937: Stabsoffizier-Lehrgang
15.08.1938-01.10.1938: Führergehilfen-Lehrgang
21.11.1939-01.04.1940: Kommandeur - Stab II./ Infanterie-Regiment 266
01.04.1940-01.04.1942: Kommandeur - Stab/Infanterie-Regiment 230
01.04.1942-06.06.1942: Führer-Reserve WK XII
06.06.1942-07.11.1942: Kommandeur - Stab/Infanterie-Regiment 230
07.11.1942-15.01.1943: Führer-Reserve OKH /HG Don
15.01.1943-22.02.1943: Kommandeur - Stab/ Schule II für Offiziersanwärter der Infanterie
01.04.1943-01.06.1943: mdFb - Stab/ 76. Infanterie-Division
01.06.1943-23.04.1944: Kommandeur - Stab/ 76. Infanterie-Division
18.07.1944: Kommandeur - Stab/ 76. Infanterie-Division
20.08.1944: Führer - Stab/ IV. Rum. AK
05.09.1944-15.10.1944: Führer-Reserve HG Südukraine
15.10.1944-13.12.1944: Führer-Reserve WK XII
13.12.1944-01.03.1945: mdFb - Stab/ LXIII. Armeekorps
01.03.1945: Kommandierender General - Stab/ LXIII. Armeekorps

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Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

September 2nd, 1915

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

March 20th, 1917

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

June 27th, 1917

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

December 1st, 1934

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Bataillons-Kommandeur, II.Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 266, 72. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

March 10th, 1940

Had already received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 2nd September 1915.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Regiments-Führer, Infanterie-Regiment 230, 76. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

June 21st, 1940

Had already received the Iron Cross 1st Class on 27th June 1917.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Infanterie-Regiment 230, 76. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

March 7th, 1942

Award 86/3.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Infanterie-Regiment 230

Awarded on:

June 22nd, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Infanterie-Regiment 230, 76. Infanterie-Division, VIII. Armee-Korps, 6. Armee, Heeresgruppe B

Awarded on:

November 13th, 1942

Abraham’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“Oberst Abraham and his Infanterie-Regiment 230 were involved in heavy defensive combat at the blocking position north of Stalingrad ever since our own forces broke through to the Volga on the 24.08.1942. They served in this capacity up until the Division was pulled out of the line on the 01.10.1942, in accordance with orders from the Armee.

Throughout the course of this extremely trying combat the Bolsheviks tried to relieve Stalingrad with a seemingly endless supply of both fresh reserves and tanks. However Oberst Abraham and his brave men fought with equal determination throughout this period, holding their positions to the last man during the weeks of defensive fighting.

Oberst Abraham particularly distinguished himself during the major Russian attacks on the 18. and 23.09.1942. Our defending forces had been severely weakened by the previous combat, and so on both of these two days the Russians were able to completely wipe out the garrison in two locations after heroic combat by our forces. The enemy poured in strong infantry and tank forces through these narrow gaps, and they advanced all the way to Oberst Abraham’s command post. Here Oberst Abraham fought with the same spirit of bravery and self-sacrifice exhibited by the soldiers that fought in the foremost line. He personally gathered up the men of his staff, and with them he held off the attacks of the far numerically superior enemy with a weapon in his own hands. Ultimately he managed to hold out on both occasions until reserves were brought up.

Although his own weak forces stood little chance of success against the much larger force, Oberst Abraham then decided on both occasions to launch an immediate counterthrust without waiting for orders from the Division.

Oberst Abraham’s personal devotion to duty here was enough to inspire his men to risk going onto the offensive. In the resultant combat the enemy was torn apart, the hostile tanks destroyed and the frontline totally restored by the evening.

Oberst Abraham was clearly able to demonstrate his steadfastness, energy and personal bravery on both of these days. By doing so he managed to prevent the impending enemy breakthroughs and thereby achieve defensive successes that were of significance for the entire overall situation.

It is likewise to Oberst Abraham’s primary credit that his Regiment was able to hold its frontline on all other combat days. Throughout this time he understood the necessity of inspiring his Regiment with the appropriate fighting spirit, and this enabled it to withstand the enemy’s great superiority in spite of its own heavy losses. By successfully holding his sector of the frontline he contributed to the ability of our forces in Stalingrad to carry out their operations without interference.

Oberst Abraham has already been recommended for the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross on account of his brave and successful conduct during the encirclement battle at Kalatsch.”

1311th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalmajor (Brigadier)

Unit:

Kommandeur, 76. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

June 3rd, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalleutnant (Major-general)

Unit:

Kommandeur, 76.Infanterie-Division, XXIX. Armee-Korps, Heeresgruppe Südukraine

Awarded on:

June 26th, 1944

Generalleutnant Abraham and his reinforced Division succeeded in establishing a bridgehead over the eastern bank of the Latka river (northwest of Odessa) at the beginning of April 1944. The Division subsequently succeeded in holding this bridgehead open for those German forces that were fighting their way through Soviet formations as they retreated westwards. Abraham would be awarded the Oakleaves for his role in this decisive feat.

516th Award

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

with 1 star

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1943

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GüNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1997.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GüNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio-Verlag, Osnabrück, 1987.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
  - Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
  - Kursietis, Andris J., The Wehrmacht at War 1939-1945, Aspekt, The Netherlands, 1999
  - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001
  - Microfilm Publication A3356. US National Archives.