User:Reguyla\Otto Korfes

[link label/Photo of Otto Korfes]

Otto Korfes (* November 23rd, 1889 in Wenzen - † August 24th, 1964 in Potsdam) was a German Generalmajor in the Nationale Volksarmee during World War II. that were used in the GDR in building of armed forces. Scala was advised as a Division Commander of the 295 Infantry Division at Stalingrad in the rank of major General in Soviet captivity. In East Germany, he was appointed in 1952 as a major General of the Kasernierte Volkspolizei.

Life
Scala was the son of a pastor. He attended the gymnasium in Blankenburg, and entered on March 17, 1909 as Fahnenjunker in the 3rd Magdeburgian Infantry Regiment No. 66. There he was promoted on October 18, 1909 to Ensign, as well as on 22 August 1910 to Lieutenant. With the outbreak of the first world war he was initially used as a platoon commander in his regiment and participated in the capture of the fortress of Liege. In the further course of the war he fought exclusively on the Western front, was first lieutenant on February 25, 1915, and as such, regimental adjutant and battalion commander. His transfer to the staff of the 7th Division followed on 11 April 1918, as a captain (since December 18, 1917). In this role, Scala remained beyond the end of the war. He retired from the active service of the Reichswehr on September 30, 1920 and was awarded as a major character. Then Scala graduated from the philosophical Faculty of the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität of Berlin. in 1923, he graduated doctor of political sciences Max Sering and Werner Sombart. From April 1920 to 1 June 1937 he was busy at the Potsdam realm archives Oberregierungsrat at the Kriegsgeschichtlichen Research Institute of the armed forces in Potsdam. in 1929, he married Gudrun Mertz von Quirnheim (1907-1979) [1], the daughter of the President of the Reich archives, Hermann Mertz von Quirnheim. his daughter Sigrid was born in 1933, another daughter was the future sociologist of Gunhild Scala. As a major of the reserve, Scala was reactivated on June 1, 1935, by the armed forces and assigned to the infantry regiment of 66. With the acquisition in the active relationship battalion followed simultaneously on October 1, 1937 the appointment as Commander of I. After one year you put in the meantime then on February 1, 1938 to Lieutenant Colonel transported Scala as regimental commander. This position retained Scala about the beginning of the second world war until February 5, 1940, then took 518 infantry regiment and received his promotion to Colonel on January 1, 1941. On November 2, 1942, he gave up the command and was transferred briefly to the Führerreserve until November 16, 1942. Mandated him with the leadership of 295 Infantry Division until January 1, 1943. With the simultaneous appointment to major General was appointed Division Commander on 1 January 1943. At the battle of Stalingrad, he was in Soviet captivity on 31 January 1943. He then became involved in the National Committee for a free Germany (NKFD), on the front of the German soldiers to call, to surrender and thus to put an end to the war. As a member of the NKFD, worked closely in the Soviet Union with Walter Ulbricht. Thus were subject to the so-called guilt family members and were deported by the Gestapo in prisons and concentration camps. Scala was a co-founder of the League of German officers. His brother-in-law of Albrecht Mertz von Quirnheim was actively involved in the conspiracy of the 20th of July. After brutal interrogation, his other brother-in-law Wilhelm Dieckmann was shot on September 13, 1944 in Berlin in the Lehrter Straße from the Gestapo prison. [2] From war captivity, Scala in 1948 returned to Potsdam. As head of the State archives in Potsdam (1948-1952) and the Department of archives in the Ministry of the Interior (1949-1952), he laid the foundations of East German archives. [3] in East Germany, he was an active member of the National Democratic Party of Germany and transferred to the ruling elite of the Volkspolizei. But the State security was suspicious toward him. [4] [5] and Deputy Director of the operational Department of the Kasernierte Volkspolizei 1952 to 1956 he was as major-general the Kasernierte Volkspolizei historical head of the MdI. [6] he supported the German history museum scientific content. [7] he was since the establishment of the National Council of the national front in February 1950 member of the National Council [8] and Chairman of the District Committee of Potsdam, Member of the section history of the Academy of Sciences and from 1958 until his death of Chairman the Association of retired officers. [9] His urn was buried in the new cemetery at Potsdam (Heinrich-man-Allee). [10]

Awards

 * Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse (1914) in 1916


 * Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (1914) in 1916


 * 1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse (1914)


 * 1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (1914)


 * Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges


 * Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)


 * Deutsches Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen


 * Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse


 * Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse


 * Verwundetenabzeichen? (1939 or 1918) in Schwarz?


 * Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht


 * Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht


 * Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on January 11th, 1942 as Oberst in Infanterie-Regiment 518, 295. Infanterie-Division, Heer


 * Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on January 22nd, 1943 as Generalmajor and Kommandeur of the 295. Infanterie-Division


 * Vaterländischer Verdienstorden der DDR in Silber 1959 anlässlich seines 70. Geburtstages


 * Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Medaille 1957


 * Medaille für Kämpfer gegen den Faschismus 1933 bis 1945