Sodan, Ralf

Date of birth:: July 17th, 1880 (Regensburg/Bavaria, Germany)
Date of death:: April 23rd, 1945 (Cottbus/Brandenburg, Germany)
Nationality:: German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
Marcg 8th, 1898: Fähnrich;
November 16th, 1899: Leutnant;
September 19th, 1909: Oberleutnant;
October 1st, 1913: Rittmeister;
May 1st, 1922: Major;
February 1st, 1928: Oberstleutnant;
October 1st, 1933: Oberstleutnant (L);
August 1st, 1935: Oberst (E);
December 1st, 1940: Generalmajor;
December 1st, 1942: Generalleutnant.

Career:
August 26th, 1939: Kdr. Inf.Rgt. 338;
November 28th, 1940: Kommandant von Oslo;
February 10th, 1942: Kommandant der Festung Drontheim;
March 1st, 1942: Kommandant Küstenschutzverband Tromsö;
April 21st, 1942: Kdr. 270. Inf.Div.;
August 17th, 1943: Führer-Reserve OKH;
November 30th, 1943: verabschiedet;
January 1st, 1945: Kommandant von Cottbus.

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur, Infanterie-Regiment 338, 208. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: June 16th, 1940

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

“Oberst Ralf Sodan (commander of an Infanterie-Regiment) pushed his Bataillone across the Lys Canal whilst leading from the foremost line himself. This crossing succeeded despite the heavy enemy artillery fire, and upon reaching the opposite bank the commander and his men pushed forward through the enemy positions with magnificent spirit. In this way, following a combination of surprise strikes and close combat, the Regiment captured almost all the enemy artillery in the divisional sector. This swift success on the western bank of the canal (made possible by his brave leadership) facilitated the expansion of a crucial breach in the enemy position here, and was consequently an invaluable component of the overall operational success.”