Jump to content

Erhard Raus: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
(44 intermediate revisions by 33 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Austrian-German general (1889–1956)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Multiple issues|
{{refimprove|date=November 2012}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2012}}
{{unreliable sources|date=December 2015}}
{{unreliable sources|date=December 2015}}
}}
}}
⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}

⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2013}}

{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
|name=Erhard Raus
| name = Erhard Raus
|birth_date=8 January 1889
| birth_date = 8 January 1889
|death_date={{death date and age|1956|4|3|1889|1|8|df=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1956|4|3|1889|1|8|df=y}}
|image=Erhard Raus.jpg
| image = Erhard Raus.png
|birth_place=[[Olbramovice (Znojmo District)|Wolframitz]], [[Austria-Hungary]]
| birth_place = [[Olbramovice (Znojmo District)|Wolframitz]], [[Austria-Hungary]]<br />({{small|now}} [[Olbramovice (Znojmo District)|Olbramovice, Czech Republic]])
|death_place=[[Vienna]], [[Austria]]
| death_place = [[Vienna]], [[Austria]]
|caption=A view of Raus showing his Knights Cross with Oak Leaves
| caption =
|nickname=
| nickname =
|allegiance={{flag|Austria-Hungary}} <br/>{{flagicon|Austria}} [[First Austrian Republic]] <br/>{{flag|Nazi Germany}}
| allegiance = {{flag|Austria-Hungary}}<br/>{{flag|First Austrian Republic}}<br/>{{flag|Nazi Germany}}
| branch = {{army|Nazi Germany}}
|branch=[[German Army (Wehrmacht)|Heer]]
|serviceyears=1909–45
| serviceyears = 1909–45
|rank= [[Generaloberst]]
| rank = [[File:Generaloberst (Wehrmacht) 8.svg|40px]] [[Generaloberst]]
|commands=[[6th Panzer Division]]<br/>[[XI Army Corps (Wehrmacht)|XI Corps]]<br/>[[3rd Panzer Army]]
| commands = [[6th Panzer Division]]<br/>[[XI Army Corps (Wehrmacht)|XI Corps]]<br/>[[3rd Panzer Army]]
|unit=
| unit =
|battles=[[World War I]]
| battles = <!--- [[World War I]]
----
---- --->
[[World War II]]
[[World War II]]
* [[Operation Little Saturn]]
⚫
|awards=[[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]]
* Evacuation after [[Operation Citadel]]
⚫
|laterwork=
* [[Battle of Kiev (1943)|Second Battle of Kiev]]
* [[Operation Doppelkopf]]
* [[East Prussian Offensive]]
** [[Battle of Memel]]
⚫
| awards = [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]]
⚫
| laterwork =
}}
}}


'''Erhard Raus''' (8 January 1889 – 3 April 1956) was a German general ([[Generaloberst]]) in the [[Wehrmacht]] during [[World War II]]. He commanded the [[6th Panzer Division]] during the early years of the war on the Eastern Front before taking army and [[army group]] commands.
'''Erhard Raus''' (8 January 1889 – 3 April 1956) was a general in the [[Wehrmacht]] of [[Nazi Germany]] during [[World War II]]. He commanded the [[6th Panzer Division]] during the early years of the war on the Eastern Front before taking army and [[army group]] commands. Raus was one of three former Austrians who rose to the rank of ''[[Generaloberst]]'' (Colonel General) within the German [[Wehrmacht]]. The other two were [[Alexander Löhr]] and [[Lothar Rendulic]].

==Biography==

At the age of 18, Raus enrolled in the [[Austria-Hungary|Austro-Hungarian]] officer school in [[Brno]], later being stationed in [[Cormons|Cormòns]]. During the [[First World War]] he experienced combat on the [[Eastern Front (World War I)|Eastern Front]], in southern [[Poland]], where he commanded a company of [[Bicycle infantry]].

At the end of [[First World War]], he was included in the newly formed [[Austria]]n army, first as the commander of the [[Vienna]] bicycle infantry battalion, later as a tactician at the military academy.

After the annexation of Austria to Germany in 1938, he transferred allegiance to the German military, becoming the [[military attaché]] of the German embassy in [[Rome]].

At the outbreak of [[Second World War]], he was recalled to active duty.


==World War II==
On 7 September 1941, during [[Operation Barbarossa]], Raus was appointed the acting commander of the [[6th Panzer Division]]. On 15 September, the 6th Panzer Division, minus its artillery, was transferred to [[Army Group Centre]] to take part in [[Operation Typhoon]], the advance onto Moscow.<ref>Raus, Erhard. ''Panzer Operations'' p. 84</ref> On 11 October he was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross|Knights Cross]].<ref>Scherzer 2007, p.&nbsp;615.</ref> Raus's unit was transferred to the LVI Panzer Corps.<ref>Raus, Erhard. ''Panzer Operations'' p. 93</ref>
On 7 September 1941, during [[Operation Barbarossa]], Raus was appointed the acting commander of the [[6th Panzer Division]]. On 15 September, the 6th Panzer Division, minus its artillery, was transferred to [[Army Group Centre]] to take part in [[Operation Typhoon]], the advance onto Moscow.<ref>Raus, Erhard. ''Panzer Operations'' p. 84</ref> On 11 October he was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross|Knights Cross]].<ref>Scherzer 2007, p.&nbsp;615.</ref> Raus's unit was transferred to the LVI Panzer Corps.<ref>Raus, Erhard. ''Panzer Operations'' p. 93</ref>


In early April, the 6th Panzer Division was transferred to France to refit and rest; Raus was appointed the commander of the division on 29 April.<ref name="Raus, Erhard p. 352">Raus, Erhard. ''Panzer Operations'' p. 352</ref> In mid-November 1942, the division left France for the Soviet Union.<ref>Raus, Erhard. ''Panzer Operations'' p. 138</ref> Following the failure of [[Operation Citadel]] (the Kursk offensive), he organized the withdrawal of Axis units across the [[Dnieper]] river.<ref>Raus, Erhard. ''Panzer Operations'' p. 249</ref> On 10 December 1943 he was appointed acting commander of the Fourth Panzer Army. Several days later he moved the divisions across the river as well as thousands of plundered cattle and horses.<ref>Raus, Erhard. ''Panzer Operations'' p. 254</ref> Raus commanded the [[1st Panzer Army]], the [[3rd Panzer Army]] (1944) and the XI SS Panzer Corps (1945).
In early April, the 6th Panzer Division was transferred to France to refit and rest; Raus was appointed the commander of the division on 29 April.<ref name="Raus, Erhard p. 352">Raus, Erhard. ''Panzer Operations'' p. 352</ref> In mid-November 1942, the division left France for the Soviet Union.<ref>Raus, Erhard. ''Panzer Operations'' p. 138</ref> Following the failure of [[Operation Citadel]] (the Kursk offensive), he organized the withdrawal of Axis units across the [[Dnieper]] river.<ref>Raus, Erhard. ''Panzer Operations'' p. 249</ref> On 10 December 1943 he was appointed acting commander of the Fourth Panzer Army. Several days later he moved the divisions across the river as well as thousands of plundered cattle and horses.<ref>Raus, Erhard. ''Panzer Operations'' p. 254</ref> Raus commanded the [[1st Panzer Army]], then the [[3rd Panzer Army]] (August 1944 – March 1945) which included the III SS Panzer Corps, XI SS Army Corps and Corps Group Tettau (early March 1945).


After the war, Raus wrote and co-wrote a number of books and publications focusing on strategic analysis of the tank tactics used by his forces on the Eastern Front. Raus died on 3 April 1956. He was buried in Vienna with full military honors on 6 April.<ref>Heuer 1988, p. 157</ref>
After the war, Raus wrote and co-wrote a number of books and publications focusing on strategic analysis of the tank tactics used by his forces on the Eastern Front.
Raus died on 3 April 1956. He was buried in Vienna with full military honors on 6 April.<ref>Heuer 1988, p. 157</ref>


==Awards==
==Awards==
Line 45: Line 61:


==Works==
==Works==
*''Panzer Operations: The Eastern Front Memoir of General Raus, 1941–1945'' (with Steven H. Newton), ISBN 978-0-306-81247-7
*''Panzer Operations: The Eastern Front Memoir of General Raus, 1941–1945'' (edited and translated by Steven H. Newton), {{ISBN|978-0-306-81247-7}}
* ''Peculiarities of Russian warfare (''German report ''series, 1949), {{OCLC|38291522}}
* ''Peculiarities of Russian warfare (''German report ''series, 1949), {{OCLC|38291522}}
*''Tactics in unusual situations'' (''Small unit tactics'', 1951), {{OCLC|37669938}}
*''Tactics in unusual situations'' (''Small unit tactics'', 1951), {{OCLC|37669938}}
Line 52: Line 68:
*''The Pomeranian battle and the command in the east'' (1952) {{OCLC|14445144}}
*''The Pomeranian battle and the command in the east'' (1952) {{OCLC|14445144}}
* ''Strategic deceptions ''(''Deceptions & Cover Plans Project ''# 29, 1948), {{OCLC|37161255}}
* ''Strategic deceptions ''(''Deceptions & Cover Plans Project ''# 29, 1948), {{OCLC|37161255}}




==References==
==References==
Line 62: Line 76:
===Bibliography===
===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
* Heuer, Gerd F.: ''Die Generalobersten des Heeres. Inhaber höchster deutscher Kommandostellen 1933–1945''. Rattstatt: Moewig 1988. ISBN 3-8118-1408-7
* Heuer, Gerd F.: ''Die Generalobersten des Heeres. Inhaber höchster deutscher Kommandostellen 1933–1945''. Rattstatt: Moewig 1988. {{ISBN|3-8118-1408-7}}
* {{Cite book
* {{Cite book
|last1=Patzwall
|last1=Patzwall
Line 70: Line 84:
|year=2001
|year=2001
|title=Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II
|title=Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II
|trans_title=The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2
|trans-title=The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2
|language=German
|language=German
|location=Norderstedt, Germany
|location=Norderstedt, Germany
|publisher=Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall
|publisher=Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall
|isbn=978-3-931533-45-8
|isbn=978-3-931533-45-8
}}
* {{Cite book
|last=Schaulen
|first=Fritjof
|year=2005
|title=Eichenlaubträger 1940 – 1945 Zeitgeschichte in Farbe III Radusch - Zwernemann
|trans_title=Oak Leaves Bearers 1940 – 1945 Contemporary History in Color III Radusch – Zwernemann
|language=German
|location=Selent, Germany
|publisher=Pour le Mérite
|isbn=978-3-932381-22-5
}}
}}
* {{Cite book
* {{Cite book
Line 92: Line 95:
|year=1998
|year=1998
|title=Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z
|title=Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z
|trans_title=The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z
|trans-title=The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z
|language=German
|language=German
|location=Osnabrück, Germany
|location=Osnabrück, Germany
Line 101: Line 104:
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


==Commands==
{{s-start}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-mil}}
Line 108: Line 110:
after=''Generalleutnant'' [[Walther von Hünersdorff]]|
after=''Generalleutnant'' [[Walther von Hünersdorff]]|
title= Commander of [[1st Light Division (Germany)|6th Panzer Division]]|
title= Commander of [[1st Light Division (Germany)|6th Panzer Division]]|
years=29 April 1942–7 February 1943<ref name="Raus, Erhard p. 352"/>
years=29 April 1942–7 February 1943
}}
}}


Line 115: Line 117:
after=—|
after=—|
title= Commander of [[XI Army Corps (Wehrmacht)|XI Corps (known as Provisional Corps Raus until 10 May 1943)]]|
title= Commander of [[XI Army Corps (Wehrmacht)|XI Corps (known as Provisional Corps Raus until 10 May 1943)]]|
years=10 February 1943–5 November 1943<ref name="Raus, Erhard p. 352"/>
years=10 February 1943–5 November 1943
}}
}}


Line 122: Line 124:
after=General of Panzer Troops [[Hermann Balck]]|
after=General of Panzer Troops [[Hermann Balck]]|
title= Commander of XLVII Panzer Corps|
title= Commander of XLVII Panzer Corps|
years=5 November 1943–30 November 1943<ref name="Raus, Erhard p. 352"/>
years=5 November 1943–30 November 1943
}}
}}


Line 129: Line 131:
after=General of Panzer Troops [[Walter Nehring]]|
after=General of Panzer Troops [[Walter Nehring]]|
title= Commander of [[Fourth Panzer Army (Germany)|''4. Panzer-Armee'']]|
title= Commander of [[Fourth Panzer Army (Germany)|''4. Panzer-Armee'']]|
years=10 November 1943–21 April 1944<ref name="Raus, Erhard p. 352"/>
years=10 November 1943–21 April 1944
}}
}}


Line 136: Line 138:
after=—|
after=—|
title= Commander of [[1st Panzer Army|''1. Panzerarmee'']]|
title= Commander of [[1st Panzer Army|''1. Panzerarmee'']]|
years=21 April 1944–July, 1944<ref name="Raus, Erhard p. 353">Raus, Erhard. ''Panzer Operations'' p. 353</ref>
years=21 April 1944–July, 1944
}}
}}


Line 143: Line 145:
after=''Generaloberst'' [[Gotthard Heinrici]]|
after=''Generaloberst'' [[Gotthard Heinrici]]|
title= Commander of ''Armeegruppe Raus''|
title= Commander of ''Armeegruppe Raus''|
years=July, 1944–August, 1944<ref name="Raus, Erhard p. 353"/>
years=July, 1944–August, 1944
}}
}}


Line 150: Line 152:
after=''General'' [[Hasso-Eccard von Manteuffel]]|
after=''General'' [[Hasso-Eccard von Manteuffel]]|
title= Commander of [[3rd Panzer Army|''3. Panzer-Armee'']]|
title= Commander of [[3rd Panzer Army|''3. Panzer-Armee'']]|
years=16 August 1944–10 March 1945<ref name="Raus, Erhard p. 353"/>
years=16 August 1944–10 March 1945
}}
}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}


{{Generaloberst of the Third Reich}}
{{Generaloberst of the Third Reich}}
{{KCwithOL}}
{{Knight's Cross recipients of the 6th PD}}
⚫
{{Authority control}}
{{Subject bar
{{Subject bar
| portal1=Biography
| portal1=Biography
| portal2=Military of Germany
| portal3=World War I
| portal4=World War II
}}
}}
⚫
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Raus, Erhard}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Raus, Erhard}}
[[Category:1889 births]]
[[Category:1889 births]]
[[Category:1956 deaths]]
[[Category:1956 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Znojmo District]]
[[Category:People from Olbramovice (Znojmo District)]]
[[Category:People from the Margraviate of Moravia]]
[[Category:Moravian-German people]]
[[Category:Moravian-German people]]
[[Category:Austro-Hungarian military personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:Austro-Hungarian military personnel of World War I]]
Line 178: Line 176:
[[Category:World War II prisoners of war held by the United States]]
[[Category:World War II prisoners of war held by the United States]]
[[Category:Austrian military personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Austrian military personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Military attachés]]
[[Category:Austrian military historians]]

Revision as of 13:25, 15 July 2024

Erhard Raus
Born8 January 1889
Wolframitz, Austria-Hungary
(now Olbramovice, Czech Republic)
Died3 April 1956(1956-04-03) (aged 67)
Vienna, Austria
Allegiance Austria-Hungary
 First Austrian Republic
 Nazi Germany
Service/branch German Army
Years of service1909–45
Rank Generaloberst
Commands6th Panzer Division
XI Corps
3rd Panzer Army
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Erhard Raus (8 January 1889 – 3 April 1956) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He commanded the 6th Panzer Division during the early years of the war on the Eastern Front before taking army and army group commands. Raus was one of three former Austrians who rose to the rank of Generaloberst (Colonel General) within the German Wehrmacht. The other two were Alexander Löhr and Lothar Rendulic.

Biography

At the age of 18, Raus enrolled in the Austro-Hungarian officer school in Brno, later being stationed in Cormòns. During the First World War he experienced combat on the Eastern Front, in southern Poland, where he commanded a company of Bicycle infantry.

At the end of First World War, he was included in the newly formed Austrian army, first as the commander of the Vienna bicycle infantry battalion, later as a tactician at the military academy.

After the annexation of Austria to Germany in 1938, he transferred allegiance to the German military, becoming the military attaché of the German embassy in Rome.

At the outbreak of Second World War, he was recalled to active duty.

On 7 September 1941, during Operation Barbarossa, Raus was appointed the acting commander of the 6th Panzer Division. On 15 September, the 6th Panzer Division, minus its artillery, was transferred to Army Group Centre to take part in Operation Typhoon, the advance onto Moscow.[1] On 11 October he was awarded the Knights Cross.[2] Raus's unit was transferred to the LVI Panzer Corps.[3]

In early April, the 6th Panzer Division was transferred to France to refit and rest; Raus was appointed the commander of the division on 29 April.[4] In mid-November 1942, the division left France for the Soviet Union.[5] Following the failure of Operation Citadel (the Kursk offensive), he organized the withdrawal of Axis units across the Dnieper river.[6] On 10 December 1943 he was appointed acting commander of the Fourth Panzer Army. Several days later he moved the divisions across the river as well as thousands of plundered cattle and horses.[7] Raus commanded the 1st Panzer Army, then the 3rd Panzer Army (August 1944 – March 1945) which included the III SS Panzer Corps, XI SS Army Corps and Corps Group Tettau (early March 1945).

After the war, Raus wrote and co-wrote a number of books and publications focusing on strategic analysis of the tank tactics used by his forces on the Eastern Front.

Raus died on 3 April 1956. He was buried in Vienna with full military honors on 6 April.[8]

Awards

Works

  • Panzer Operations: The Eastern Front Memoir of General Raus, 1941–1945 (edited and translated by Steven H. Newton), ISBN 978-0-306-81247-7
  • Peculiarities of Russian warfare (German report series, 1949), OCLC 38291522
  • Tactics in unusual situations (Small unit tactics, 1951), OCLC 37669938
  • Improvisations and field expedients: Their use as instruments of command (1951), OCLC 38373401
  • Effects of climate on combat in European Russia (German Report Series, CMH Pub 104-6, 1952)
  • The Pomeranian battle and the command in the east (1952) OCLC 14445144
  • Strategic deceptions (Deceptions & Cover Plans Project # 29, 1948), OCLC 37161255

References

Citations

  1. ^ Raus, Erhard. Panzer Operations p. 84
  2. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 615.
  3. ^ Raus, Erhard. Panzer Operations p. 93
  4. ^ Raus, Erhard. Panzer Operations p. 352
  5. ^ Raus, Erhard. Panzer Operations p. 138
  6. ^ Raus, Erhard. Panzer Operations p. 249
  7. ^ Raus, Erhard. Panzer Operations p. 254
  8. ^ Heuer 1988, p. 157
  9. ^ Thomas 1998, p. 184.
  10. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 367.
  11. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 615.

Bibliography

  • Heuer, Gerd F.: Die Generalobersten des Heeres. Inhaber höchster deutscher Kommandostellen 1933–1945. Rattstatt: Moewig 1988. ISBN 3-8118-1408-7
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.
  • Panzer Operations: The Eastern Front Memoir of General Raus, 1941–1945 (with Steven H. Newton)
Military offices
Preceded by
Generalleutnant Franz Landgraf
 Commander of 6th Panzer Division
29 April 1942–7 February 1943 		Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Walther von Hünersdorff
Preceded by
—
 Commander of XI Corps (known as Provisional Corps Raus until 10 May 1943)
10 February 1943–5 November 1943 		Succeeded by
—
Preceded by
General of Panzer Troops Heinrich Eberbach
 Commander of XLVII Panzer Corps
5 November 1943–30 November 1943 		Succeeded by
General of Panzer Troops Hermann Balck
Preceded by
Generaloberst Hermann Hoth
 Commander of 4. Panzer-Armee
10 November 1943–21 April 1944 		Succeeded by
General of Panzer Troops Walter Nehring
Preceded by
Generalorberst Hans Hube
 Commander of 1. Panzerarmee
21 April 1944–July, 1944 		Succeeded by
—
Preceded by
General of Panzer Troops Erhard Raus
 Commander of Armeegruppe Raus
July, 1944–August, 1944 		Succeeded by
Generaloberst Gotthard Heinrici
Preceded by
Generaloberst Georg-Hans Reinhardt
 Commander of 3. Panzer-Armee
16 August 1944–10 March 1945 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Erhard_Raus&oldid=1234655144"