Hellmuth Pfeifer

Hans-Hellmuth Pfeifer
Born	18 February 1894 Altenburg
Died	Bologna
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1912–45
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	65th Infantry Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Italian Campaign Moro River Campaign Battle of Anzio Operation Diadem Gothic Line Offensive Spring 1945 offensive in Italy
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Hans-Hellmuth Pfeifer (18 February 1894 – 22 April 1945) was a German general who commanded the 65. Infantrie Division during World War II. Its field of operation was Italy at the time of his command (from 1 Dec 1943 till its surrender on 22 Apr 1945). There it was involved in defensive action in the Moro River Campaign, countering the Anzio landings, defending the Arno Line west of Florence, and finally the defense of Bologna which was captured 21 April 1945. Pfeifer was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. 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.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (3 October 1914)
  • 1st Class (5 October 1916)
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 in 1934
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (8 June 1940)
  • 1st Class (16 June 1940)
• Infantry Assault Badge in Silver
• German Cross in Gold on 31 October 1942 as Oberst in Infanterie-Regiment 185
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 26 November 1941 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 185
  • 574th Oak Leaves on 5 September 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of 65.Infanterie-Division
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (2 June 1944)

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
2 June 1944	In diesem Frontabschnitt haben sich die 65. Infanteriedivison unter Generalleutnant Pfeiffer, die durch Teile der 4. Fallschirmjägerdivision verstärkte 3. Panzergrenadierdivision unter Generalmajor Hecker und eine aus Einheiten des Heeres und der Fallschirmtruppe zusammengestellte Kampfgruppe unter Generalleutnant Greiner, hervorragend unterstützt durch Artillerie und durch Flakartillerie der Luftwaffe, besonders ausgezeichnet.	In this section of the front have the 65th Infantry Division under Lieutenant General Pfeiffer (sic), augmented by parts of the 4th Airborne Division which reinforced the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Division under Major General Hecker and units from the Army and the parachute troops assembled combat group under Lieutenant General Greiner, well supported by artillery and anti-aircraft artillery of the Luftwaffe, particularly distinguished themselves.

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• World War 2 Awards.com
• Hellmuth Pfeifer @ Axis Biographical Research at the Wayback Machine (archived January 14, 2011)

Military offices
Preceded by Generalleutnant Gustav Heistermann von Ziehlberg	Commander of 65. Infanterie-Division 1 December 1943 - 22 April 1945	Succeeded by None