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Thomaschki, Siegfried Paul Leonhard

Date of birth:
March 20th, 1894 (Miswalde/East-Prussia, Germany)
Date of death:
May 31st, 1967 (Bad Neuenahr/Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
04.03.1913: Fahnenjunker - 2. Ostpreußisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 52
20.06.1914: Leutnant - Ordonanz-Offizier - I. Abteilung Ostpreus. Feld-Art.Rgt.52
16.09.1917: Oberleutnant - Batterieführer - 1. Batterie - Ostpreus. Feld-Art.Rgt.52
01.08.1925: Hauptmann - Regimentsadjutant - 1. (Preuß.) Artillerie-Regiment - Königsberg
01.05.1934: Major - Regimentsstab - 1. (Preuß.) Artillerie-Regiment - Königsberg
01.10.1936: Oberstleutnant - Kommandeur - II. Abt.Art.-Reg.11 in Lötzen
01.08.1939: Oberst - Kommandeur - Artillerie-Regiment 3 // Artillerie-Kommandeur 123 (Arko 123)
01.03.1942: Generalmajor - Kommandeur - 11. Infanterie-Division
01.01.1943: Generalleutnant - Höheren Artillerie-Kommandeur 303 (HArko 303) // "Kampfgruppe Thomaschki"
01.03.1945: General der Artillerie - Kommandeur - X. Armeekorps

Siegfried Paul Leonhard Thomaschki commanded the 11. Infanterie Division and X. Armeekorps during World War II.
He was captured by Soviet troops on 8 May 1945 in the Courland Pocket, he was liberated in 1955.

Siegfried Thomaschki was the third child of Paul Thomaschki, an East Prussian theologian, and his wife Elisabeth, née Schucht. Like his father he was a member of Corps Masovia Königsberg.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur des Artillerieregiments 3
Awarded on:
October 6th, 1939

Had already received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on November 31st 1914.
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur des Artillerieregiments 3
Awarded on:
December 18th, 1939

Had already received the Iron Cross 1st Class on January 27th 1917.
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:
Artillerie-Kommandeur 123
Awarded on:
December 19th, 1941

Award 33/6
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalmajor (Brigadier)
Unit:
Kommandeur 11.Infanterie-Division / XXVIII.Armee-Korps / 18.Armee / Heeresgruppe Nord
Awarded on:
November 1st, 1942
Awarded for his Division's defence of the Kirishi bridgehead. Located on the east bank of the Volkhov river, this German foothold measuring just 4 km wide and 2 km deep was the charge of Thomaschki's 11. Infanterie-Division. In the period from 05.06.-05.09.1942 the Soviets tried to eliminate this bridgehead, but despite launching a total of 154 attacks against it in this time they failed to do so. The stubborn defense by Thomaschki and his troops of what would be nicknamed the "Verdun of the North" also earned him a mention in the Wehrmachtbericht.

1291st Award.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalleutnant (Major-general)
Unit:
Kommandeur 11. Infanterie-Division / XXVI. Armee-Korps / 18. Armee / Heeresgruppe Nord
Awarded on:
September 11th, 1943
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Thomaschki once again showed masterful qualities of leadership in the defensive battles around Sinyavino in the time period 22.07.-06.08.1942, which resulted in his Division being named in the Wehrmachtbericht. As a result he would receive the Oakleaves, as well as the veneration of his own troops. This was seen on the 10.09.1942 at Annopovo, when Thomaschki had to depart his Division. As he was leaving towards Novo-Lissino that day he was seen off by a kilometre long throng of his troops.

299th Award.
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
November 31st, 1914
Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (1914)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
January 27th, 1917
Eisernes Kreuz 1.Klasse (1914)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
I./ 2. Ostpreußisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 52
Awarded on:
December 2nd, 1914
Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (1918)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:
Chef - 1./ I./ 2. Ostpreußisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 52
Awarded on:
September 17th, 1918
WIA : 02.12.1914 + 04.1916 + 08.1918
Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber (1918)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Awarded on:
1934
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalmajor (Brigadier)
Unit:
Kdr 11. Inf.Div.
Awarded on:
July 26th, 1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalleutnant (Major-general)
Awarded on:
February 12th, 1944
In the northern sector of the eastern front, the Rhenish-Westphalian 227th Infantry Division under the command of Lieutenant General Berlin and the Army artillery under the command of Oak Leaves recipient Lieutenant General Tomaschki have proven themselves to be excellent.
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
March 22nd, 1916
Militärverdienstkreuz III. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 27th, 1927
Rettungsmedaille am Band
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur des Artillerieregiments 3
Awarded on:
November 1st, 1940
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
with swords
Kriegserinnerungsmedaille

Sources

  • Photo 1: Wilco Vermeer
  • Photo: Wilco Vermeer collection, the Netherlands - General der Artillerie Siegfried Thomaschki
  • - 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, 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
    - Buxa, W., Weg und Schicksal der 11. Infanterie-Division, Nebel Verlag GmbH, Eggolsheim, Deutschland, 2004

Photos