Alexander von Hartmann

Alexander von Hartmann
Born	11 December 1890
Died	26 January 1943 (aged 52) Stalingrad
Allegiance	German Empire  Weimar Republic  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Rank	General der Infanterie (Posthumously)
Commands held	71. Infanterie-Division
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of Stalingrad †
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Alexander von Hartmann (11 December 1890 – 26 January 1943) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 71st Infantry Division. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Hartmann was killed on 26 January 1943 during the Battle of Stalingrad and was posthumously promoted to General der Infanterie.

Before his death Hartmann stated, "I intend to go to my infantry in the front line...I will seek death among their ranks. Captivity for a general is dishonourable." He was killed instantly when he was shot in the head while standing upright on the railway embankment firing "shot after shot from his rifle."^[1]

Awards and decorations

• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 8 October 1942 as Generalleutnant and commander of 71. Infanterie-Division ^[2]

References

Citations

1. Adam, Wilhelm; Ruhle, Otto (2015). With Paulus at Stalingrad. Translated by Tony Le Tissier. Pen and Sword Books Ltd. pp. 180–182, 195, 198. ISBN 9781473833869.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 178.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.