Josef Harpe

Josef Harpe
Josef Harpe
Born	(1887-09-21)21 September 1887
Died	14 March 1968(1968-03-14) (aged 80)
Allegiance	German Empire Weimar Republic Nazi Germany
Service / branch	Army
Years of service	1909–45
Rank	Generaloberst
Commands	9th Army 12th Panzer Division XXXXI Panzer Corps
Battles / wars	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Ruhr Pocket Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Vistula–Oder Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords

Josef Harpe (21 September 1887 – 14 March 1968) was a German general (Generaloberst) in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 9th Army. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords of Nazi Germany.

Harpe joined the Prussian Army in 1909 and fought in World War I. After the war Harpe remained in the Reichswehr and then served in the Wehrmacht. He served on the Eastern Front, where he commanded XXXXI Panzer Corps and the 9th Army. From September 1944 to January 1945 Army Group A, when he was relieved of his command due to the inability of German forces to stop the Soviet Vistula–Oder Offensive. He ended the war commanding the 5th Panzer Army on Western Front. He was interned by the United States until 1948.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class (21 September 1914) & 1st Class (3 September 1915)
• Wound Badge (1914) in Black (20 May 1918)
• Wehrmacht Long Service Award 1st Class (2 October 1936)
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
  • Knight's Cross on 13 August 1941 as Generalmajor and commander of the 12. Panzer-Division
  • Oak Leaves on 31 December 1941 as Generalmajor and commander of the 12. Panzer-Division
  • Swords on 15 September 1943 as General der Panzertruppe and commanding general of the XXXXI. Panzerkorps
• German Cross in Gold on 19 February 1943 as General der Panzertruppe and commanding general of the XXXXI.Panzerkorps

References

Bibliography

• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die 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 Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
• Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
• Wegmann, Günter (2009). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil VIIIa: Panzertruppe Band 2: F–H (in German). Bissendorf, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2389-4. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)