Hermann Foertsch

Hermann Foertsch (4 April 1895 – 27 December 1961) was a highly decorated General der Infanterie in the Wehrmacht during World War II who held commands at the divisional, corps and army levels. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Hermann Foertsch surrendered to American forces under the command of General Jacob Devers, commanding general of the U.S. Sixth Army Group, in 1945 and was later tried at the Hostages Trial in 1947 but was acquitted.

Biography

After WWII

After his acquittal he collaborated with Hans Speidel in the development of concepts for Germany's rearmament many years before the official foundation of the Bundeswehr, the German army, in 1955.

Interdoc

Foertsch was involved in the establishment of the European anti-communist organisation Interdoc.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
• Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords (15 May 1918)
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• German Cross in Gold (10 July 1943)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 August 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of 21. Infanterie-Division
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on (4 August 1944)

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
4 August 1944 (Addendum)	In den Kämpfen der letzten Tage an der Narwa-Front haben sich ein Armeekorps unter Führung des Generals der Pioniere Tiemann und die 21. ostpreußische Infanteriedivision unter Generalleutnant Foertsch besonders ausgezeichnet.	In the fighting in recent days at the Narva front, has an army corps under the command of General of the Pioneers Tiemann and the 21st East Prussian Infantry Division under Lieutenant General Foertsch particularly distinguished themselves.

See also

• End of World War II in Europe
• Hostages Trial
• List of Axis personnel indicted for war crimes

References

Bibliography

• Scott-Smith, Giles. Interdoc and West European Psychological Warfare: The American Connection. Intelligence and National Security Vol. 26, Nos. 2–3, 355–376, April–June 2011.

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• World War 2 Awards.com
• Hermann Foertsch @ Axis Biographical Research at the Wayback Machine (archived November 16, 2010)

Military offices
Preceded by None	Chief of General Staff of Heeresgruppe F 12 August 1943 - 15 March 1944	Succeeded by Generalleutnant August Winter
Preceded by Generalmajor Franz Sensfuß	Commander of 21. Infanterie-Division 28 March 1944 - 22 August 1944	Succeeded by Generalmajor Heinrich Götz
Preceded by General der Infanterie Friedrich Köchling	Commander of X. Armeekorps 21 September 1944 - 21 December 1944	Succeeded by Generalleutnant Dr. Ing. Dr. Johannes Mayer
Preceded by General der Infanterie Siegfried Rasp	Commander of 19. Armee 15 February 1945 - 28 February 1945	Succeeded by General der Infanterie Hans von Obstfelder
Preceded by General der Infanterie Hans von Obstfelder	Commander of 1. Armee 28 February 1945 - 6 May 1945	Succeeded by General der Kavallerie Rudolf Koch-Erpach