Rudolf Demme

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Rudolf August Demme
Born (1894-06-03)3 June 1894
Mühlhausen, Thuringia
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Meckenheim-Merl
Allegiance  German Empire (to 1918)
 Weimar Republic (to 1933)
 Nazi Germany
Service/branch Heer
Years of service 1914–45
Rank Generalmajor
Commands held 17. Panzer Division
Battles/wars World War I

Spanish Civil War


World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Rudolf August Demme (3 June 1894 – 5 January 1975) was a German General 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.

Biography

Demme was born in Mühlhausen in Thuringia. He entered Army Service (Reserves) on 15 September 1914 as a volunteer in the 1st Recruitment-Depot of the 11th Pioneer Replacement Battalion. During the first years of World War I he served in different units mostly as a pioneer. On 9 August 1917, still as a NCO he became a Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3rd Field Company of the 2nd Pioneer Battalion. From 15 July 1918 to the end of the war Demme served as a Zugführer in 402nd Pioneer Company as Leutnant. When the war was over he retired from the active service on 21 December 1918.

Some 18 years later, on 5 January 1937, Demme reactivated in Reserve Service of the reincarnated German Army but he became an active officer on 1 November 1941 in the rank of the Oberstleutnant. From 27 January 1937 to 1 January 1939, after the infantry training course with the Instruction Infantry regiment Döberitz, he was a Head Trainer for the Condor Legion in Spain. At the same time, as an experienced pioneer officer, he was detached to Selection course with the 43rd Pioneer Battalion. From 1 January – 8 June 1939 he served as an Officer with Special Duties of OKW – Service with the Chief of OKW, Special-Staff W.

In the dawn of World War II Demme was transferred to the Staff of Training Leader Aachen 1 (8 June – 26 August 1939) and then to the Staff of the Commander of Fortifications at the Lower Rhine until 10 April 1940. In following years Rudolf Demme was a commanding officer in 208th Pioneer Replacement Battalion (10 April 1940 – 8 July 1941), 92nd Panzer Pioneer Battalion (8 July – 15 December 1941) and 58th Panzer Pioneer Battalion (15 December 1941 – 15 October 1942), then he was transferred to Revitalization Staff Centre.

On 10 January 1943 Demme became a Commander the 59th Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment of the 20th Panzer Division and led his unit through the bloody battles on the Eastern Front until 25 July 1944 (Orel, Brjansk, Mogilew, Witebsk, Newel, Bobruisk, Cholm). He was promoted to Oberst on 1 July 1944. From 25 July – 20 September 1944 he was in Führer's Reserve and, at the same time, he was detached to the 14th Division Leaders Course, after which he was delegated with the Leadership of the 17th Panzer Division.

In Führer's Reserve OKH from 2 December 1944 and just few days later he was delegated with the Leadership of the 132nd Infantry Division (10 December 1944 - 1 March 1945). Demme became a Generalmajor and the Commander of the 132nd Infantry Division on the same day, 1 March 1945, and led his division through the Courland Pocket until the end of the war.

Demme was captured by the Soviets on 8 May and he spent next the 10 years in Soviet captivity from which he was released on 6 October 1955. He died in Meckenheim-Merl.

Promotions

Decorations & Awards

References

Citations

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Thomas 1997, p. 112.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Thomas & Wegmann 1998, p. 201.
  3. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 81.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Scherzer 2007, p. 269.
  5. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 159.
  6. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 86.

Bibliography

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External links

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Military offices
Preceded by Commander of 17th Panzer Division
20 September 1944 – 2 December 1944
Succeeded by
Oberst Albert Brux