Hans-Peter Knaust
Hans-Peter Knaust
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from left to right: Generalfeldmarschall Walter Model, Generaloberst Kurt Student, Generalmajor der Waffen-SS Wilhelm Bittrich, Major Hans-Peter Knaust, Generalmajor der Waffen-SS Heinz Harmel
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Born | Kiel |
7 August 1906
Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. Kevelaer |
Buried |
Ohlsdorf Cemetery
Field BO/64-Grave 411 |
Allegiance | Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
Service/ |
Reichsheer Heer |
Years of service | 1924–45 |
Rank | Oberstleutnant |
Unit | 490. Infanterie-Division |
Commands held | II./Schützen-Regiment 4 Panzergrenadier-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz-Bataillon 64 Kampfgruppe "Knaust" |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Hans-Peter Knaust (7 August 1906 – 22 October 1983) was a highly decorated Oberstleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Contents
Career
Knaust was born on 7 August 1906 in Kiel in the Province of Schleswig-Holstein, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia. Knaust joined Infanterie-Regiment 4 (4th Infantry Regiment) on 5 March 1924 and was transferred to Infanterie-Regiment 5 (5th Infantry Regiment) on 1 April 1934. Both regiments were subordinated to the 2. Division of the Reichswehr in the Weimar Republic.
Battle of Arnhem
Knaust led a Kampfgruppe (battle group) against John Frost's forces in the Battle of Arnhem (17–26 September 1944) during the Western Allies' Operation Market Garden, the ill-fated attempt to capture the bridges over the Rhine.
Awards and decorations
- Iron Cross (1939)
- Wound Badge (1939)
- in Black (?)
- in Silver (?)
- Eastern Front Medal
- German Cross in Gold on 28 February 1942 as Major in the II./Schützen-Regiment 4[2]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 28 September 1944 as Major and commander of Kampfgruppe "Sonnenstuhl" in the II. SS-Panzerkorps[3][Note 1]
- 843rd Oak Leaves on 17 April 1945 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Regiment "Knaust" in the 490. Infanterie-Division[5][Note 2]
- Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 18 April 1945
Wehrmachtbericht reference
Date | Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording | Direct English translation |
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18 April 1945 (addendum) | Bei den schweren Kämpfen in Nordwestdeutschland hat sich die 490. Infanterie-Division unter Führung von Oberst Behrend, ausgezeichnet mit dem Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, durch vorbildliche Standhaftigkeit hervorragend bewährt. Der mit dem Ritterkreuz zum Eisernen Kreuz ausgezeichnete Oberstleutnant Knaust, Regimentskommandeur dieser Division, hat sich bei diesem Kämpfen durch persönlichen Einsatz ganz besonders hervorgetan.[6] | The 490th Infantry Division under the command of Colonel Behrend, awarded with the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, has excelled by showing exemplary steadfastness in the heavy fighting in north-western Germany. The winner of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Lieutenant Colonel Knaust, regimental commander in this division, has personally particularly distinguished himself in these battles. |
Notes
- ↑ According to Scherzer as ommander of Kampfgruppe "Sonnenstuhl" [an alarm unit with the II. SS-Panzerkorps, in the battle area of Arnhem/Netherlands].[4]
- ↑ According to Scherzer as commander of Regiment "Knaust" (Divisions Nr. 490).[4]
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Bennett, David (2011). A Magnificent Disaster: The Failure of Market Garden, the Arnhem Operation, September 1944. Casemate Publishers. ISBN 978-1-935149-97-2.
- Bishop, Chris and Williams, Michael (2003). SS: Hell on the Western Front : the Waffen-SS in Europe, 1940–1945. Zenith Imprint. ISBN 978-0-7603-1402-9.
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- Mitcham, Samuel W. (2006). Retreat to the Reich. Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3384-7.
- Mitcham, Samuel W. (2009). The Siegfried Line: The German Defense of the West Wall, September – December 1944. Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-4386-0.
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- Williamson, Gordon (2004). The SS: Hitler's Instrument of Terror. Zenith Imprint. ISBN 978-0-7603-1933-8.
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External links
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- Articles containing German-language text
- 1906 births
- 1983 deaths
- German military personnel of World War II
- Recipients of the Gold German Cross
- Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- People from Kiel
- Military personnel referenced in the Wehrmachtbericht
- German amputees
- World War II prisoners of war held by the United Kingdom
- People from the Province of Schleswig-Holstein