Gottfried von Erdmannsdorff (25 April 1893 – 30 January 1946) was a German general during World War II. He was convicted by a Soviet military tribunal for war crimes at the Minsk Trial and executed in 1946.
On 27 June 1944 Soviet troops managed to push forward and make a deep breakthrough north of Mogilev by crossing the Dnieper River over a bridge at Trebuchi. The 4th Army dispatched a message to General Erdmannsdorff that Mogilev be held as a "fortified position" and ordered him to hold the town until the very last man. The 4th Army retreated the XXXIX Panzer Corps and the XII Army Corps a full 21km west of Mogilev, leaving the town to its fate against the overwhelming Soviet attacks. Later in the evening General Erdmannsdorff reported that German forces had been weakened and the Soviets had started to reach the edge of the city. Only 2 hours and 40 minutes later General Erdmannsdorff stated that the only part of the city still under his control was the city center and hand to hand combat was starting to take place. The last radio message that was received from Mogilev was at 11 O'clock in the evening and it was Lieutenant General Rudolf Bamler the commanding officer of the 12th Infantry Division requesting that Captain Opke of Artillery Regiment 12 should receive the Oak leaves of the Knights Cross for "outstanding military exploits".[1]
After the Soviet troops defeated "Fortress Mogilev" General Erdmannsdorff was captured by Soviet troops. He was tried by a Soviet tribunal (the Minsk Trial) for crimes committed in Belarus along with 18 other defendants, 14 of whom, including Erdmannsdorff, were sentenced to death on 29 January 1946. The officers were hanged in public (with over 100,000 civilian spectators) in the horse racing venue of Minsk, on 30 January 1946.[2] He was the younger brother of General der InfanterieWerner von Erdmannsdorff.[3]
^Veal, Stephen Ariel (1991). The collapse of the German army in the East in the summer of 1944 (Volume 1) (MA History thesis). Portland State University. pp. 334–335. doi:10.15760/etd.6183.
Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN978-3-7909-0284-6.
Heer, Hannes (1995). "Der Minsker Prozess". Hannesheer.de.
Military offices
Preceded by
none
Commander of Division Nr. 465 29 September 1942 – 1 March 1944
gottfried, erdmannsdorff, april, 1893, january, 1946, german, general, during, world, convicted, soviet, military, tribunal, crimes, minsk, trial, executed, 1946, born25, april, 1893kamenz, german, empiredied30, january, 1946, 1946, aged, minsk, byelorussian, . Gottfried von Erdmannsdorff 25 April 1893 30 January 1946 was a German general during World War II He was convicted by a Soviet military tribunal for war crimes at the Minsk Trial and executed in 1946 Gottfried von ErdmannsdorffBorn25 April 1893Kamenz German EmpireDied30 January 1946 1946 01 30 aged 52 Minsk Byelorussian SSR Soviet UnionAllegiance German Empire to 1918 Weimar Republic to 1933 Nazi GermanyService wbr branchArmy Wehrmacht Years of service1913 331934 45RankGeneralmajorCommands held465th Division Fortress Mogilev Battles warsWorld War I World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of Belgium Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Mogilev Offensive POW AwardsKnight s Cross of the Iron CrossRelationsWerner von Erdmannsdorff brother Fortress Mogilev EditOn 27 June 1944 Soviet troops managed to push forward and make a deep breakthrough north of Mogilev by crossing the Dnieper River over a bridge at Trebuchi The 4th Army dispatched a message to General Erdmannsdorff that Mogilev be held as a fortified position and ordered him to hold the town until the very last man The 4th Army retreated the XXXIX Panzer Corps and the XII Army Corps a full 21km west of Mogilev leaving the town to its fate against the overwhelming Soviet attacks Later in the evening General Erdmannsdorff reported that German forces had been weakened and the Soviets had started to reach the edge of the city Only 2 hours and 40 minutes later General Erdmannsdorff stated that the only part of the city still under his control was the city center and hand to hand combat was starting to take place The last radio message that was received from Mogilev was at 11 O clock in the evening and it was Lieutenant General Rudolf Bamler the commanding officer of the 12th Infantry Division requesting that Captain Opke of Artillery Regiment 12 should receive the Oak leaves of the Knights Cross for outstanding military exploits 1 Minsk Trial EditMain article Minsk Trial After the Soviet troops defeated Fortress Mogilev General Erdmannsdorff was captured by Soviet troops He was tried by a Soviet tribunal the Minsk Trial for crimes committed in Belarus along with 18 other defendants 14 of whom including Erdmannsdorff were sentenced to death on 29 January 1946 The officers were hanged in public with over 100 000 civilian spectators in the horse racing venue of Minsk on 30 January 1946 2 He was the younger brother of General der Infanterie Werner von Erdmannsdorff 3 Awards and decorations EditKnight s Cross of the Iron Cross on 20 March 1942 as Oberst and commander of Infanterie Regiment 171 4 References EditCitations Edit Veal Stephen Ariel 1991 The collapse of the German army in the East in the summer of 1944 Volume 1 MA History thesis Portland State University pp 334 335 doi 10 15760 etd 6183 Heer 1995 Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels Adelige Hauser A Band XXVII Band 132 der Gesamtreihe C A Starke Verlag Limburg Lahn 2003 p 318 319 Fellgiebel 2000 p 147 Bibliography Edit Fellgiebel Walther Peer 2000 1986 Die Trager des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 1945 The Bearers of the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 1945 in German Friedberg Germany Podzun Pallas ISBN 978 3 7909 0284 6 Heer Hannes 1995 Der Minsker Prozess Hannesheer de Military officesPreceded bynone Commander of Division Nr 46529 September 1942 1 March 1944 Succeeded byGeneralleutnant Kurt Hoffmann Portals Biography Military of Germany World War I World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gottfried von Erdmannsdorff amp oldid 1124562743, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
