Erwin Jollasse

Erwin Jollasse (12 December 1892 – 8 March 1987) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Early years and World War I
Erwin Jollasse was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1892. He entered the Imperial German Army in 1911 as a Fahnenjunker and was patented as a Leutnant on June 6, 1913. When World War I began he was in command of one of the companies of the 25th Reichsjager Regiment. He later became a gas warfare officer and a pilot observer in the air force. For his service in World War I he was awarded the Iron Cross I and II, as well as the Wound Badge. He left the armed forces at the end of the war and took a job as a civilian pilot. In 1933 he was commissioned as a Flieger Hauptmann (flight captain) in the new Luftwaffe. By 1934 he left the Luftwaffe and reentered the Army as a Hauptmann.

World War II
During the Anschluss, the annexation of Czechoslovakia and the Polish Campaign he was assigned to the West Wall. When the Wehrmacht invaded Holland he was assigned to the 4. Infanterie-Division. During this campaign he was awarded the 1939 clasps to his Iron Crosses. In 1941 he was promoted to Oberst (Colonel) and assigned to the 18. Panzer-Division. On November 2, 1941, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, for his actions in closing the Soviet pocket during the Battle of Kiev. He took command of the 9. Panzer-Division on July 22, 1943 and held it til he was wounded in October, he later resumed command in November and held it to August 10, 1944, when he was wounded again. In late 1944 he was declared fit for limited service and was given a desk job at the Inspectorate of Panzer Troops. In March 1945 he was named to replace Maj. Gen Rudolf Goltzsch as commander of the 344. Volksgrenadier Division in Czechoslovakia, a command he held until April 30, 1945, when he and twenty-five other men broke out of the Soviet encirclement and eluded the Red and US Armies until June 8. He was released from prison on June 30, 1947, and died on March 14, 1987, in Kitzingen.

Medals and Decorations

 * Iron Cross (1914)
 * 2nd Class
 * 1st Class
 * Wound Badge (1914)
 * in Black
 * Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (1 June 1940)
 * 1st Class (21 June 1940)
 * Eastern Front Medal (26 November 1942)
 * Panzer Badge in Bronze
 * Wound Badge (1939)
 * in Silver
 * in Gold
 * German Cross in Gold (7 January 1944)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 2 November 1941 as Oberst and commander of Schützen-Regiment 52

Dates of Rank

 * Fahnenjunker - October 3, 1911
 * Leutnant - June 6, 1913
 * Oberleutnant - August 18, 1916
 * Hauptmann - February 1, 1929
 * Major - N/A
 * Oberstleutnant - March 1, 1938
 * Oberst - March 1, 1941
 * Generalmajor - October 1, 1943
 * Generalleutnant - April 20, 1945