Traugott Herr

Traugott Herr (16 September 1890 – 13 April 1976) was a German general of Panzer (armoured) troops who served during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Second World War
Herr, a colonel (Oberst), commanded the 66th Infantry Regiment, part of the 13th Motorized Infantry Division, in Poland (September 1939 to May 1940) and France (May 1940 to October 1940). In October 1940 the division was reformed in Vienna as 13th Panzer Division and was sent to Romania as a training unit. Herr was given command of 13th Rifle Brigade (13. Schutzen-Brigade) which controlled the division's two infantry regiments. In May 1941 the division returned to Germany to take part in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. In December 1941, Herr was given acting command of the division when Major-General (generalmajor) Walter Duvert fell ill. Herr's appointment was confirmed on 1 April 1942 along with promotion to major-general.

On 25 September 1942, still on the Eastern Front, Herr was seriously wounded and repatriated to Germany to recuperate. By June 1943 he had recovered and was appointed acting commander to form the headquarters of a new LXXVI Army Corps in the rank of lieutenant-general (generalleutnant). The corps headquarters was re-designated LXXVI Panzer Corps the following month and in August was sent to Italy. His command was confirmed on 1 September along with promotion to general of amoured troops (general der panzertruppe).

Herr commanded the corps in the Italian Campaign with only minor breaks until 26 December 1944. He also took command of 14th Army for a brief period from late November to mid-December 1944. He then spent a short time in reserve before returning in mid-February 1945 to take command of 10th Army. The Allied final and decisive spring 1945 offensive in Italy opened in early April and Herr was captured by the British on 2 May 1945. He was held captive until his repatriation in 1948.

Herr was born in Weferlingen in the Prussian Province of Saxony. He died in Achterwehr.

Awards

 * Wound Badge in Black
 * 1914 Iron Cross
 * 2nd Class (14 September 1914)
 * 1st Class (21 October 1915)
 * House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords
 * Bavarian Military Merit Cross (3rd Class)
 * Panzer Badge in Silver
 * Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (24 September 1939)
 * 1st Class (12 May 1940)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
 * Knight's Cross on 2 October 1941 as Oberst and commander of the 13th Rifle Brigade (13. Schützen-Brigade)
 * 110th Oak Leaves on 9 August 1942 as Generalmajor and commander of 13th Panzer Division (13. Panzer-Division)
 * 117th Swords on 18 December 1944 as General der Panzertruppe and commanding general of LXXVI Panzer Corps (LXXVI. Panzerkorps)
 * Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht on 24 June 1944 and 22 September 1944