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Marcks, Erich

Date of birth:
June 6th, 1891 (Berlin-Schöneberg/Brandenburg, Germany)
Date of death:
June 12th, 1944 (Hébécrevon/Manche, Normandy, France)
Buried on:
German War Cemetery Marigny
Plot: 2. Row: 38. Grave: 1478.
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
December 21st, 1911: Leutnant;
October 18th, 1918: Hauptmann;
December 1st, 1929: Major (RDA: June 1st, 1929);
October 1st, 1933: Oberstleutnant;
September 1st, 1935: Oberst;
April 1st, 1939: Generalmajor;
March 1st, 1941: Generalleutnant;
October 1st, 1942: General der Artillerie.

Career:
? - 1909: Universität Freiburg;
October 1st, 1910: Freiwilliger, 3. Batterie, 5. Badischen Feld-Artillerie-Regiment Nr. 76;
?: Schleswigsches Feldartillerie-Regiment „Generalfeldmarschall Graf Waldersee" Nr. 9;
1914: Abteilungs-Adjutant, Reserve-Feldartillerie-Regiment 17;
?: Abteilungsadjutant;
?: Regimentsadjutant;
1916: ausbildung Generalstabsgehilfen;
1917: Grossen Generalstab;
1918: Oberste Heeresleitung;
1919: Freikorps "Epp";
1920: Abwehroffizier, Reichswehr-Gruppenkommando 1;
August 28th, 1920: Reichswehrministerium, Berlin;
1924: Heeresabteilung (T 1), Truppenamt (TA), Reichswehrministerium;
October 1st, 1925: Generalstab, 3. Division;
October 1st, 1927: Chef, 14. (reitende) Batterie, 3. (Preuss.) Artillerie-Regiment;
July 1st, 1929: Chef, Pressegruppe, Wehrmachtsabteilung (W), Reichswehrministerium;
April 1st, 1933: Kommandeur, I. Abteilung, Artillerie-Regiment 6;
October 1st, 1935: Chef des Generalstabes, VIII. Armeekorps;
October 25th, 1939: Chef des Stabes, 18. Armee;
December 10th, 1940: Kommandeur, 101. leichte Infanterie-Division;
March 15th, 1942: Kommandeur, 337. Infanterie-Division;
September 20th, 1942: Führer, LXVI. Reservekorps;
November 5th, 1942: Kommandierender General, LXXXVII. Armeekorps;
August 1st, 1943 - June 12th, 1944: Kommandierender General, LXXXIV. Armeekorps.

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Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Leutnant
Awarded on:
September 25th, 1914
Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (1914)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Leutnant
Awarded on:
August 1915
Eisernes Kreuz 1.Klasse (1914)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur, I. Abteilung, Artillerie-Regiment 6, 6. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
1934
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalmajor (Brigadier)
Unit:
Chef des Generalstabes, VIII. Armeekorps, Heer
Awarded on:
September 21st, 1939
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalmajor (Brigadier)
Unit:
Chef des Generalstabes, VIII. Armeekorps, Heer
Awarded on:
September 29th, 1939
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalleutnant (Major-general)
Unit:
Kommandeur, 101. leichte Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
June 26th, 1941
Awarded for his Division’s successes during the opening stages of Operation Barbarossa, specifically for its crossing of the San river NE of Przemysl and especially the subsequent battle against a Soviet bunker line at Medyka. Throughout these four days of battle Marcks was a great example for his men, personally present among the forward elements and directing the fire against enemy bunkers from very close range. These attacks had the important result of improving the security of the right flank of the 17. Armee and reinforcing the hitherto non-ideal connection with the LII. Armee-Korps, deployed south of the Wisznia.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalleutnant (Major-general)
Unit:
Kommandeur, 101. leichte Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
August 20th, 1941
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Gold
Awarded for a serious wound received on Jun 26th, 1941.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
General der Artillerie (Lieutenant-General of Artillerie)
Unit:
Kommandierender General, LXXXIV. Armeekorps, Heer
Awarded on:
June 13th, 1944
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
General der Artillerie (Lieutenant-General of Artillerie)
Unit:
Kommandierender General, LXXXIV. Armeekorps, Heer
Awarded on:
June 24th, 1944
Awarded for his role in containing the allied invasion of Normandy during the vital first week, as well as his previous distinguished service as a Wehrmacht planner. In the latter capacity he was particularly noteworthy as being one of the main advisers for the preparation of Operation Barbarossa.

Posthumously awarded.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

Sources

Photos