| Dr. rer. pol. Dr.-Ing. Johannes Mayer | |
|---|---|
|
File:Johnannes Mayer.jpg Johannes Mayer | |
| Born | 6 September 1893 |
| Died | 7 August 1963 (aged 69) |
| Place of birth | Stepenitz, Province of Brandenburg |
| Place of death | Hamburg |
| Allegiance |
 German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Heer |
| Years of service | 1914–1945 |
| Rank | General der Infanterie |
| Commands held |
Infanterie-Regiment 501 329. Infanterie-Division |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords |
| Other work | Engineer |
Dr. rer. pol. Dr.-Ing. Johannes Mayer[Notes 1] (6 September 1893 – 7 August 1963) was a German General of the Infantry, serving during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (German language: 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.
Military career
Mayer was born on 6 December 1893 in Stepenitz in the Province of Brandenburg, the son of a pastor. He attended the boarding school Pforta, where he graduated with his Abitur (diploma) as best of his class. He then started studying theology. With the outbreak of World War I he volunteered for military service and joined Infanterie-Regiment "Prinz Moritz von Anhalt-Dessau" Nr. 42. Throughout World War I he served with this regiment earning both classes the Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz).
Awards
- Iron Cross (1914)
- Cross of Honor
- Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung 4th to 1st Class
- Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
- Infantry Assault Badge in Silver
- Eastern Front Medal
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
- Knight's Cross on 13 September 1941 as Oberst and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 501[2]
- 453rd Oak Leaves on 13 April 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 329. Infanterie-Division[2]
- 89th Swords on 23 August 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 329. Infanterie-Division[2]
- Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (16 March 1944, 18 July 1944)
References in the Wehrmachtbericht
| Date | Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording | Direct English translation |
|---|---|---|
| 16 March 1944 | In Kämpfen nordwestlich Newel hat sich die rheinisch-westfälische 329. Infanteriedivision unter Führung des Generalleutnants Mayer besonders ausgezeichnet.[3] | The Rhenish-Westphalian 329th infantry division under the leadership of Generalleutnant Mayer distinguished itself in combat northwest of Newel. |
| 18 July 1944 | Bei den Kämpfen an der Ostfront haben sich im Süden die fränkisch-sudentendeutsche 88. Infanterie-Division unter Führung von Generalmajor v. Rittberg und im Norden die rheinisch-westfälische 329. Infanterie-Division unter Führung des Generalleutnants Mayer durch besondere Härte und Zähigkeit wiederholt ausgezeichnet.[4] | The Frankish- Sudeten German 88th infantry division under the command of Generalmajor von Rittberg in the northern sector of the eastern front and the Rhenish-Westphalian 329th infantry division under the leadership of Generalleutnant Mayer in the southern sector distinguished themselves by showing hardship and toughness. |
Notes
- ↑ In German a Doctorate of political economy is abbreviated as Dr. rer. pol. (Doctor rerum politicarum) and a Doctorate in engineering is abbreviated as Dr.-Ing. (Doctor-Ingenieur).
References
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Berger, Florian (1999). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges (in German). Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 3-9501307-0-5.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) (in German). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtsteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches]. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 3-7648-2300-3.
- Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 (in German). München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.
External links
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The original article can be found at Johannes Mayer and the edit history here.