Heribert von Larisch

Heribert von Larisch was a high-ranking officer of the German Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the renowned 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.

World War I and Interwar Period
Heribert von Larisch was born in Freiburg im Breisgau in 1894. Shortly before the outbreak of World War I, on 5 February 1914, he assigned as Cadet to the 18th Dragoon Regiment and was promoted to Leutnant on 16 September 1914.

After the capitulation of the German Empire in 1918, von Larisch was discharged from his military duties on 31 March 1920, as the Treaty of Versailles enforced to Germany ordered that the new German Army (Reichswehr) should be drastically downsized. In 1920 he began to study law at the university of Rostock.

Nevertheless, under the leadership of the new Chancellor of Germany, Adolf Hitler, Germany started a massive rearmament. With military conscription obligatory, aiming to expand the German Armed Forces (renamed to Wehrmacht), von Larisch was called back on 1 October 1933, now with the rank of Hauptmann. From 1 October 1937 onwards he served as an instructor in the War School Hannover (Kriegsschule Hannover).

World War II
When Germany invaded Poland, marking the official outbreak of World War II, von Larisch commanded the 1st Battalion of the 167th Infantry Regiment. Upon the successful outcome of the operation, von Larisch was named commander of the 3rd Regiment's Battalion on 10 January and was promoted to Oberstleutnant on 1 February 1940. He participated with his battalion in the Invasion of France and in that of the Soviet Union.

On 30 June 1941, von Larisch went on to command the entire 440th Infantry Regiment and was promoted to Oberst on 1 October. A year later, he was named leader of the 1st Fortress Brigade (1. Festungsbrigade or Festungsbrigade Kreta), but on 15 November he was transferred to the German Railway Security Staff Croatia (Deutscher Eisenbahn-Sicherungs-Stab Kroatien). From July to August 1943, he took a course for division leaders, and upon its completion he was commissioned commander of the 78. Sturm-Division on 1 November. On 15 February 1944 he took command of the 129. Infanterie-Division, followed by his promotions to Generalmajor (1 April 1944) and Generalleutnant (October 1, 1944). While in command of the division, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the second highest military decoration of Nazi Germany on 26 December 1944.

Late war
With the situation for Germany quickly deteriorating, von Larisch was relieved from his command on 11 February 1945. On 15 March he was the commander of the Infantry School Döberitz (which was moved to Grafenwöhr in early March) until 24 April.

The following day, he was officially put into the army reserve until 15 June. In Krün, he directed a seminar for regiment commanders. Upon hearing the news of Hitler's suicide, he assembled the participants in a school room and made a somehow prophetic announcement, before dissolving it: What you've learned here the last weeks wasn't learned in vain – because there will be a new German Army in a few years!

Post-war
Heribert von Larisch was arrested by American troops on 15 June 1945. He was held in captivity for almost two years before his release on 1 July 1947. He died on 16 May 1972 in Hamburg. It must though be noted that 20 March 1952, though rather implaysible, can be often seen as his date of death.

Awards

 * German Cross in Gold on 1 September 1944 as Generalmajor and commander of the 129. Infanterie Division
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 December 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 129. Infanterie Division
 * Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 12 September 1944

Books by Heribert von Larisch

 * Larisch, Heribert von:Das 2. Grossherzogl. Mecklenburg. Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 18 im Weltkriege 1914-1918 (102nd volume of Erinnerungsblätter Deutscher Regimenter). G. Stalling, 1924. 256 pages