Horst Niemack

Horst Niemack
Horst Niemack (left) with Hasso von Manteuffel
Born	(1909-03-10)10 March 1909 Hannover, Province of Hanover, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died	Gross Hehlen, Celle, Lower Saxony, Germany
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1927–45
Rank	Generalmajor (Wehrmacht) Brigadegeneral of the Reserves (Bundeswehr)
Commands held	Panzer-Lehr-Division
Battles/wars	World War II Ruhr Pocket
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords Great Cross of Merit
Other work	Bundeswehr

Horst Niemack (10 March 1909 – 7 April 1992) was a German general in the infantry, serving during World War II and in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. 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

Horst Niemack joined the military service on Easter 1927 after he had graduated from the Realgymnasium (secondary school) in Hanover with his Abitur (diploma). He joined the 18th Rider-Regiment (Reiter-Regiment 18) of the Reichswehr in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt and was promoted to the rank of Leutnant in 1931.

Horst Niemack's uniform (Deutsches Panzermuseum Munster)

Horst Niemack was severely wounded on 24 August 1944 when his leading Panzerspähwagen (Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle) was hit. He was rescued at the very last moment from the burning wreck and was immediately flown from the field hospital to Berlin. At the Charité Professor Ferdinand Sauerbruch managed to avoid amputation of his left arm.

Horst Niemack later took command of the Panzer Lehr Division on 10 January 1945, succeeding Generalleutnant Fritz Bayerlein. Until 30 April 1945, leading the division in its final battles. He is considered by some as a better division commander than his predecessor.

Post-war years

After the war, Horst Niemack devoted himself to his hobby, horseback riding and horse breeding. At the Olympic Games in 1956, 1960, 1964 and 1968, he accompanied the German dressage team as an authorized representative. From 1956 Niemack also served as chairman of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR).

Awards

• Infantry Assault Badge in Silver
• Wound Badge in Gold (7 April 1944)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (17 May 1940)
  • 1st Class (12 June 1940)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
  • Knight's Cross on 13 July 1941 as Rittmeister and commander of Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5
  • 30th Oak Leaves on 10 August 1941 as Rittmeister and commander of Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5
  • 69th Swords on 4 June 1944 as Oberst and commander of Panzer-Füsilier-Regiment "Großdeutschland"
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 6 July 1941
• Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (12 June 1969)

Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
Sunday, 6 July 1941	Rittmeister Niemack, Führer einer Aufklärungsabteilung, die Oberleutnante Freiherr Maercken und Buchterkirch in einem Panzerregiment, sowie Oberleutnant Ritz in einem Schützenregiment zeichneten sich durch vorbildliche Tapferkeit aus.	Rotamaster Niemack, leader of a reconnaissance unit, the first lieutenants Freiherr Maercken and Buchterkirch in a tank regiment, and Lieutenant Ritz in a rifle regiment distinguished themselves through exemplary bravery.

References

Bibliography

• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, 1. September 1939 bis 31. Dezember 1941 (in German). München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.

External links

Military offices
Preceded by Generalleutnant Fritz Bayerlein	Commander of Panzer-Lehr-Division 15 January 1945 – 3 April 1945	Succeeded by Oberst Paul Freiherr von Hauser