Harald Freiherr von Elverfeldt

Harald Freiherr von Elverfeldt (6 February 1900 – 6 March 1945) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 9 Panzer Division. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Biography
Harald Freiherr von Elverfeldt was born in 1900 in Hildesheim to Maj. Ferdinand Johann Georg von Elverfeldt, the Major was attached to the Imperial Embassy in St. Petersburg. On March 25, 1918, Harald secured his patent as a Fähnrich in the 1st Foot Guards Regiment. He was rushed through an officer's training course and sent into combat. He was wounded in May 1918 and was awarded the Iron Cross II. After the war he remained in the 100,000-man Reichswehr and was promoted to Leutnant on November 24, 1919. Harald married Elizabeth von Berg in 1923 and had two daughters, the first in 1924 and the second in 1929. He was promoted to Oberleutnant in 1926, Hauptmann in 1933 and Major in 1937. He served in the 3rd Light Division (Germany) during the Polish Campaign and was awarded the to Iron Cross I and the clasp to the Iron Cross II. Harald was promoted to Oberstleutnant on November 1.

Harald then participated in the Battle of France and Operation Barbarossa. In March 1942 he was promoted to Oberst and was awarded the German Cross in Gold. Throughout the rest 1942 and early 1943 he participated in several anti-partisan operations (Operation Eisvogel (Operation Common Kingfisher) and Operation Zigeunerbaron (Operation Gypsy Baron).  In September 1943 he was promoted to the rank of Generalmajor and served in the Crimea.  In September 1944 after the 9th Panzer Division had fought in Normandy, Harald von Elverfeldt took command of the division and commanded it until December 28, 1944 and then again from February 1945 - until he was killed in action in March 1945.  Elverfeldt was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on December 9, 1944 and was posthumously awarded Oak Leaves on March 23, 1945 along with a promotion to Generalleutnant.

Medals and Decorations

 * Iron Cross (1914)
 * 2nd Class
 * Wound Badge (1914)
 * in Black
 * Cross of Honor
 * Iron Cross
 * 2nd Class (20 September 1939)
 * 1st Class (8 October 1939)
 * Wound Badge (1939)
 * in Silver
 * Eastern Front Medal (5 August 1942)
 * German Cross in Gold (20 March 1942)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 9 December 1944 as Generalmajor and commander of the 9th Panzer-Division
 * 801st Oak Leaves on 23 March 1945 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 9th Panzer-Division
 * Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (26 November 1944)

Dates of Rank

 * Fähnrich - March 25, 1918
 * Leutnant - November 24, 1919
 * Oberleutnant - February 20, 1926
 * Hauptmann - September 1, 1933
 * Major - March 1, 1937
 * Oberstleutnant - November 1, 1939
 * Oberst - March 1, 1942
 * Generalmajor - September 1, 1943
 * Generalleutnant - March 23, 1945