Date of birth:

December 4th, 1895 (Munich/Bavaria, Germany)

Date of death:

April 28th, 1979 (Munich/Bavaria, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Promotions:
May 26th, 1915: Leutnant;
November 1st, 1923: Oberleutnant;
March 1st, 1938: Oberstleutnant;
March 1st, 1943: Generalmajor.

Career:
August 4th, 1915: Freiwilliger, 2. Ulanen-Regiment „König", Bayerischen Armee;
1918: 22. Infanterie-Regiment „Fürst Wilhelm von Hohenzollern";
?: Ordonnanzoffizier, 2. Ulanen-Regiment „König", Bayerischen Armee;
?: Freiwilligen-Eskadron Leoprechting;
?: Zugführer, 1. Eskadron, Kavallerie-Regiment 24;
?: Zugführer, 2. Eskadron, Kavallerie-Regiment 17;
1927-1928: Kavallerieschule Hannover;
?: Stab, 17. (Bayerischen) Reiter-Regiment;
?: Adjutant, Höheren Kavallerieoffizier 3;
1936: Kommandeur, I. Abteilung, Kavallerie-Regiment 18;
August 1939: Kommandeur, Kavallerie-Regiment 7;
1940: Kommandeur, Aufklärungs-Abteilung 25;
September 15th, 1940: Kommandeur, Schützen-Regiment 304;
October 12th, 1940: Kommandeur, Schützen-Regiment 66;
October 1st, 1941: Kommandeur, 22. Schützen-Brigade;
October 1st, 1941: Kommandeur, 2. Schützen-Brigade;
February 1st, 1942: Kommandeur, 22. Schützen-Brigade;
November 1st, 1942: Kommandeur 22. Panzer-Division;
February 9th, 1943: Führerreserve OKH;
June 10th, 1943: Kommandeur, 15. Panzergrenadier-Division;
May 1945 - June 1946: British POW.

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Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

July 30th, 1915

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

August 10th, 1918

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 21st, 1940

Had already received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on July 30th 1915.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 21st, 1940

Had already received the Iron Cross 1st Class August 10th 1918.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Aufklärungs-Abteilung 25, 56. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

June 25th, 1940

The following wartime excerpt (dated 30.08.1940) describes why Rodt received the Knight’s Cross…

“Oberstleutnant Rodt and his unit achieved outstanding successes over the course of numerous river and canal crossings during the time period 10.05.-04.06.1940. Such results were above all made possible thanks to the independent resolve demonstrated by the commander. A particularly notable example of this was on the 25.05.1940, when Oberstleutnant Rodt advanced into Gent with elements of his Aufklärungs-Abteilung. The Belgians were completely caught off guard by this move, and they surrendered. In the end, thanks to his boldness and initiative here, Oberstleutnant Rodt was able to capture both Gent and roughly 5000 enemy troops stationed therein with only 40 men of his own.

The Aufklärungs-Abteilung would go on to achieve feats of great importance through its bold actions after reaching Dirmuiden and during the crossing over the Yser river. These efforts cleared a path across this sector of the canal for the main body of the Korps and enabled the advance to carry on to Fournes. This deed was of decisive importance for the final fighting around Dunkirk.”

98th Heer Award

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, 22. Schützen-Brigade, 22. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

August 23rd, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

January 25th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 13th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalleutnant (Major-general)

Unit:

Kommandeur, 15. Panzergrenadier-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

April 28th, 1945

Awarded for his success as commander of the 15. Panzergrenadier-Division along the Lower Rhine front in early 1945. He particularly distinguished himself during an attempted allied breakthrough of the German frontline sector Borken—Ramsdorf (east of Borken) on the night of the 28./29.03.1945.

During this battle Rodt would commit the bulk of his division to this sector on his own initiative, thereby weakening his western wing along the line Rhede—Borken. Rodt accepted this risk, as it was the only way to prevent the Allies from smashing the front east of Borken. His gamble paid off, with he himself overseeing the transfer of troops as well as the fighting itself. The Allied breakthrough attempt came to nought. Rodt thus contributed decisively to the continuation of resistance by the II. Fallschirm-Korps, all while demonstrating a great deal of personal bravery in the process.

847th Award.
The 843rd Award was the last official numbered Eichenlaub during Ww2. The number given to Eberhard Rodt is based on the award date.

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Wilco Vermeer/Norbert Beyerlein
• Photo: Wilco Vermeer collection, the Netherlands
  - Pop-up grave: Norbert Beyerlein
  
• - PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1998.
  - 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
  - Die Tapfersten