Rudolf Demme

Rudolf August Demme
Born	(1894-06-03)3 June 1894 Mühlhausen, Thuringia
Died	Meckenheim-Merl
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1914–45
Rank	Generalmajor
Commands held	17. Panzer Division
Battles/wars	World War I Spanish Civil War World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Rudolf August Demme (3 June 1894 – 5 January 1975) was a German General during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). 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.

Biography

Demme was born in Mühlhausen in Thuringia. He entered Army Service (Reserves) on 15 September 1914 as a volunteer in the 1st Recruitment-Depot of the 11th Pioneer Replacement Battalion. During the first years of World War I he served in different units mostly as a pioneer. On 9 August 1917, still as a NCO he became a Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3rd Field Company of the 2nd Pioneer Battalion. From 15 July 1918 to the end of the war Demme served as a Zugführer in 402nd Pioneer Company as Leutnant. When the war was over he retired from the active service on 21 December 1918.

Some 18 years later, on 5 January 1937, Demme reactivated in Reserve Service of the reincarnated German Army but he became an active officer on 1 November 1941 in the rank of the Oberstleutnant. From 27 January 1937 to 1 January 1939, after the infantry training course with the Instruction Infantry regiment Döberitz, he was a Head Trainer for the Condor Legion in Spain. At the same time, as an experienced pioneer officer, he was detached to Selection course with the 43rd Pioneer Battalion. From 1 January – 8 June 1939 he served as an Officer with Special Duties of OKW – Service with the Chief of OKW, Special-Staff W.

In the dawn of World War II Demme was transferred to the Staff of Training Leader Aachen 1 (8 June – 26 August 1939) and then to the Staff of the Commander of Fortifications at the Lower Rhine until 10 April 1940. In following years Rudolf Demme was a commanding officer in 208th Pioneer Replacement Battalion (10 April 1940 – 8 July 1941), 92nd Panzer Pioneer Battalion (8 July – 15 December 1941) and 58th Panzer Pioneer Battalion (15 December 1941 – 15 October 1942), then he was transferred to Revitalization Staff Centre.

On 10 January 1943 Demme became a Commander the 59th Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment of the 20th Panzer Division and led his unit through the bloody battles on the Eastern Front until 25 July 1944 (Orel, Brjansk, Mogilew, Witebsk, Newel, Bobruisk, Cholm). He was promoted to Oberst on 1 July 1944. From 25 July – 20 September 1944 he was in Führer's Reserve and, at the same time, he was detached to the 14th Division Leaders Course, after which he was delegated with the Leadership of the 17th Panzer Division.

In Führer's Reserve OKH from 2 December 1944 and just few days later he was delegated with the Leadership of the 132nd Infantry Division (10 December 1944 - 1 March 1945). Demme became a Generalmajor and the Commander of the 132nd Infantry Division on the same day, 1 March 1945, and led his division through the Courland Pocket until the end of the war.

Demme was captured by the Soviets on 8 May and he spent next the 10 years in Soviet captivity from which he was released on 6 October 1955. He died in Meckenheim-Merl.

Promotions

• Gefreiter: 24 July 1915
• Unteroffizier: 22 September 1915
• Vizefeldwebel: 3 June 1917
• Leutnant of the Reserves: 28 September 1917
• Oberleutnant of the Reserves: 1 October 1938
• Hauptmann: 1 January 1939
• Major: 30 January 1939
• Oberstleutnant: 1 November 1941
• Oberst: 1 July 1943
• Generalmajor: 1 March 1945

Decorations & Awards

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (1 September 1916)
  • 1st Class
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (2 September 1941)
  • 1st Class (20 September 1941)
• General Assault Badge (15 August 1942)
• Eastern Front Medal (15 August 1942)
• German Cross in Gold on 20 September 1942 as Oberstleutnant in the 92nd Panzer Pioneer Battalion.
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 14 August 1943 as Oberst and commander of the 59th Panzer Grenadier Regiment.
  • 537th Oak Leaves on 28 July 1944 as Oberst commander of the 59th Panzer Grenadier Regiment.
• One Tank Destruction Badge in Silver (15 August 1942)
• Wound Badge in Gold (15 August 1944)

External links

Military offices
Preceded by Generalleutnant Karl-Friedrich von der Meden	Commander of 17th Panzer Division 20 September 1944 – 2 December 1944	Succeeded by Oberst Albert Brux