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Kahsnitz, Erich (Generalmajor)

Date of birth:
February 17th, 1898 (Adelig-Kaukern, Insterburg, Germany)
Date of death:
July 29th, 1943 (Lazarett Breslau, Germany)
Buried on:
German War Graves Cmentarz Osobowicki
Grave: UNK.
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
06.06.1917: Fahnenjunker
00.00.1918: Fähnrich
09.06.1918: Leutnant
01.04.1925: Oberleutnant
01.02.1933: Hauptmann
01.10.1936: Major
01.02.1940: Oberstleutnant
01.03.1942: Oberst
20.05.1944: Generalmajor - RDA 01.07.1943

Career:
28.08.1914: joined the Infanterie-Regiment 150
06.07.1917: Fahnenjunker, Infanterie-Regiment 150
00.00.1919: Jägerkorps 'Gerth'
01.09.1919: Reichswehr-Infanterie-Regiment 120
01.05.1920: Infanterie-Regiment 39
21.12.1920: Infanterie-Regiment 2
01.04.1926: Transport-Bataillon 2
01.10.1928: Infanterie-Regiment 2
01.02.1933: Kompaniechef, Infanterie-Regiment 2
15.10.1935: Taktiklehrer, Kriegschule Potsdam
01.09.1939: Führerreserve OKH
09.11.1939: Kdr, I. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 29, 3. Infanterie-Division
20.11.1940: Kdr, Kompanieführer-Lehrgang, Bergen
05.03.1941: Kdr, I. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 29, 3. Infanterie-Division
11.07.1941-20.08.1941: Kdr, Infanterie-Regiment 29 (mot.), 3. Infanterie-Division (mot.)
21.08.1941: Führerreserve, Wehrkreis III
20.12.1941: Leiter, Lehrstab für Bataillons- und Abteilungs-Führer, 71. Infanterie-Division
29.03.1942: Kdr., Bataillons- und Abteilungs-Führer-Schule Mourmelon, France
01.09.1942: Führerreserve OKH
20.10.1942: Kdr., Füsilier-Regiment "Großdeutschland", Panzergrenadier-Division "Großdeutschland"
05.07.1943: WIA near Belgorod during the Battle of Kursk
29.07.1943: DOW in Lazarett in Breslau
20.05.1944: posthumously promoted to Generalmajor

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Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
1934
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 1942
Ärmelband Grossdeutschland
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:
Kdr, Füsilier-Regiment "Grossdeutschland"
Awarded on:
April 2nd, 1943
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Füsilier-Regiment "Großdeutschland"
Awarded on:
July 15th, 1943
Awarded the Knight’s Cross for his outstanding leadership during the first day of the battle of Kursk. During the breach of the heavily fortified Soviet field positions, which saw Kahsnitz’s Panzer-Füsilier regiment lose their both armoured support and the commander of the III. Bataillon to minefields, the Regiment broke off its attack due to the heavy losses.

However following his own assessment of the situation, Kahsnitz led his men forward in a renewed attack. Despite the tough opposing defenses the Germans managed to break into and seize the Soviet positions, and thereafter hold the high ground they had taken from bitter Soviet counterattacks. Near the end of the day Kahsnitz was badly wounded, and would later succumb to these injuries the same month.

Even so his accomplishments on this single day of fighting were clearly deemed to be very praiseworthy by his superiors, this fact being evidenced by his receiving the Knight’s Cross just 10 days after the battle.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

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