Horst von Mellenthin

Horst von Mellenthin
Born	31 July 1898 Hanover
Died	Wiesbaden
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1915–45
Rank	General der Artillerie
Commands held	23. Infanterie-Division 93. Infanterie-Division 205. Infanterie-Division XVI. Armeekorps XXXVIII. Panzerkorps XI. Armeekorps VIII. Armeekorps
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Siege of Leningrad Baltic Offensive (1944) Courland Pocket Upper Silesian Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Relations	Friedrich von Mellenthin (a younger brother, who was a Generalmajor in World War II)

Horst von Mellenthin (31 July 1898 – 8 January 1977) was a highly decorated General der Artillerie in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several corps. He 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 (22 August 1915)
  • 1st Class (29 May 1917)
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (15 July 1943)
  • 1st Class (26 July 1943)
• German Cross in Gold on 25 March 1944 as Generalmajor and commander of the 205. Infanterie-Division
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 10 October 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 205. Infanterie-Division
  • 815th Oak Leaves on 4 April 1945 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 205. Infanterie-Division
• Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht (20 September 1944 and 27 December 1944)

Wehrmachtbericht references

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
20 September 1944 (addendum)	Bei den schweren Abwehrkämpfen in Lettland haben sich die schwäbische 205. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Generalleutnant von Mellenthin, die bayerisch-pfälzische 132. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Generalleutnant Wagner und die sächsische 24. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Oberst Schulz [sic] durch Angriffsschwung und Standfestigkeit hervorragend bewährt.	In the heavy defensive battles in Latvia, the Swabian 205th Infantry Division under the command of Lieutenant-General von Mellenthin, the Bavarian-Palatinate 132nd Infantry Division under the command of Lieutenant-General Wagner and the Saxon 24th Infantry Division led by Colonel Schulz, have proven themselves excellently by showing attacking momentum and steadfastness.
27 December 1944 (addendum)	Bei den schweren Abwehrkämpfen in Kurland haben sich die 205. Infanteriedivision unter Führung des Generalleutnants von Mellenthin und die 19. Freiwilligendivision unter SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Streckenbach hervorragend geschlagen.	In the heavy defensive battles in Courland, the 205th Infantry Division under the leadership of Lieutenant-General von Mellenthin and the 19 voluntary Division under SS-Gruppenführer and Lieutenant General of the Waffen-SS Streckenbach fought magnificently.

References

Bibliography

• von Mellenthin, F.W. (Maj.Gen.) (1977). German Generals of World War II: As I Saw Them.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 - 1945

Military offices
Preceded by Generalmajor Friedrich von Schellwitz	Commander of 23. Infanterie-Division August 1943 – 1 September 1943	Succeeded by Generalleutnant Paul Gurran
Preceded by General der Pioniere Otto Tiemann	Commander of 93. Infanterie-Division 1 September 1943 – 1 October 1943	Succeeded by Generalleutnant Karl Löwrick
Preceded by Generalmajor Ernst Michael	Commander of 205. Infanterie-Division 1 December 1943 – 20 November 1944	Succeeded by Generalmajor Ernst Biehler
Preceded by General der Kavallerie Philipp Kleffel	Commanding General of the XVI. Armeekorps October 1944 – November 1944	Succeeded by General der Kavallerie Philipp Kleffel
Preceded by General der Artillerie Kurt Herzog	Commanding General of the XXXVIII. Panzerkorps 8 January 1945 – 15 March 1945	Succeeded by Unknown
Preceded by General der Infanterie Rudolf von Bünau	Commanding General of the XI. Armeekorps 16 March 1945 – 20 March 1945	Succeeded by General der Infanterie Rudolf von Bünau
Preceded by General der Infanterie Friedrich Wiese	Commanding General of the VIII. Armeekorps 20 April 1945 – 8 May 1945	Succeeded by None