Erwin Jollasse

Erwin Jollasse
Born (1892-12-08)8 December 1892
Hamburg, German Empire
Died 14 March 1987(1987-03-14) (aged 95)
Tutzing, Upper Bavaria, West Germany
Allegiance  German Empire (to 1918)
 Weimar Republic (to 1919)
 Nazi Germany
Service/branch Heer
Years of service 1911–19
1933–45
Rank Generalleutnant
Commands held 9. Panzer-Division
344. Volksgrenadier-Division
Battles/wars

World War I

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Erwin Jollasse (12 December 1892 – 8 March 1987) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Biography

Early years and World War I

Erwin Jollasse was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1892. He entered the Imperial German Army in 1911 as a Fahnenjunker and was patented as a Leutnant on June 6, 1913. When World War I began he was in command of one of the companies of the 25th Reichsjager Regiment. He later became a gas warfare officer and a pilot observer in the air force. For his service in World War I he was awarded the Iron Cross I and II, as well as the Wound Badge. He left the armed forces at the end of the war and took a job as a civilian pilot. In 1933 he was commissioned as a Flieger Hauptmann (flight captain) in the new Luftwaffe. By 1934 he left the Luftwaffe and reentered the Army as a Hauptmann.

World War II

During the Anschluss, the annexation of Czechoslovakia and the Polish Campaign he was assigned to the West Wall. When the Wehrmacht invaded Holland he was assigned to the 4. Infanterie-Division. During this campaign he was awarded the 1939 clasps to his Iron Crosses. In 1941 he was promoted to Oberst (Colonel) and assigned to the 18. Panzer-Division. On November 2, 1941, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, for his actions in closing the Soviet pocket during the Battle of Kiev. He took command of the 9. Panzer-Division on July 22, 1943 and held it until he was wounded in October, he later resumed command in November and held it to August 10, 1944, when he was wounded again. In late 1944 he was declared fit for limited service and was given a desk job at the Inspectorate of Panzer Troops. In March 1945 he was named to replace Maj. Gen Rudolf Goltzsch as commander of the 344. Volksgrenadier Division in Czechoslovakia, a command he held until April 30, 1945, when he and twenty-five other men broke out of the Soviet encirclement and eluded the Red and US Armies until June 8. He was released from prison on June 30, 1947, and died on March 14, 1987, in Tutzing.

Medals and Decorations

Dates of Rank

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 202.

Bibliography

  • Mitcham, Samuel W. Jr. 2008."Panzer Commanders of the Western Front:German Tank Generals in WWII". Mechanicsburg PA, USA.StackPole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3507-0.
  • 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. 
  • 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. 
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. 

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Generalleutnant Walter Scheller		 Commander of 9. Panzer-Division
22 July 1943 – 20 October 1943 		Succeeded by
Generalmajor Dr. Johannes Schulz
Preceded by
Oberst Max Sperling		 Commander of 9. Panzer-Division
28 November 1943 – 10 August 1944 		Succeeded by
Oberst Max Sperling
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