Oberst Hans-Jürgen von der Linde (1892-1984)

[harmel]

I do not know if has been posted before as I have just found it in my Research docs.

Otto Hans-Jurgen von der Linde 13/1/1892-23/5/84. Date not known of PLM.

1912-Was with in 5th Foot Guards Regt.-WW2 last rank was Oberst.

I believe was an Officer in Bundeswehr.need more info .

Regards Harmel.

[VJK]

Hi Harmel!

This is from the Pour le Merite site:

"The fifth Pour le Mérite was awarded to a 22 year old Leutnant von der Linde of the 5th Guard Regiment. He captured Fort Malonne at Namur with only the aid of four other volunteers from his unit. This act of bravery so bold and brazen that it impressed the Kaiser. Amazingly enough, when the fortress was captured, they did not have a proper German flag to replace the Belgian flag, so they hoisted up a white shirt, a black coat, and a red pair of pants!!" The award was dated 18. September, 1914.

Regards,

VJK

[Jan-Hendrik]

Was he with the georgian Legion in WW2?

Jan-Hendrik

[Bernd R]

confirmation for basic PLM info : plm #5

von der Linde, Hans- Jürgen
geb.: 13. 01. 1892 Potsdam
plm: 18. 09. 1914
Leutnant
Zugführer im 5. Garde- Regiment zu Fuß
Inbesitznahme des Forts de Malonne in Belgien

Bernd

[Peter H]

Refer here:

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=86015

[Jan-Hendrik]

Thank you, Peter, have posted my answer in the mentioned Thread.

Jan-Hendrik

[Nicole S.]

Did he really served in the Bundeswehr?

Horrido!

Nicole

[joerg]

No, Oberst von der LINDE did not served in the Bundeswehr, because when the Bundeswehr was founded in 1955, he was too old (63 years).
Otto von der Linde served in the army until 1920 (a.D. as Oberleutnant). 19 years later in 1939, by the outbreak of WWII, he was reactivated (rank Oberstleutnant). In WWII he was commander of IER 258 and Festungs-GR 654.
In October 1944 Oberst von der Linde was discharged.
He died on 23th May 1984, last but one (ERNST JÜNGER) ot the pour le merite-holders.

[Nicole S.]

Thank you!

Horrido!

Nicole

[Doktor Krollspell]

Just to put Hans-Jürgen von der Linde's Pour le Mérite award in perspective, of the total of 687 awards of the PlM during WWI, only two (2) went to junior Heer officers on Zugführer and Stosstruppführer level. Except from von der Linde you have Leutnant Hans Markmann of the Inf.Rgt. 186 who recieved the PlM on 12.02.1918.

Then on Heer company commad level there was only eleven (11) awards of the PlM, the most famous one undoubtly Leutnant Ernst Jünger of the Füsilier-Rgt. 76 who recieved the award on 18.09.1918.

So that such a young and junior Heer officer as von der Linde recieving Imperial Germany's highest award, and so early in the war was truly remarking...


Regards,

Krollspell

[Nicole S.]

Danke for this extra piece of info, Doktor Krospell!

Horrido!

Nicole

[Peter H]

Walther Schnieber also needs to be added to the list.

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=126382


The first junior RK in 1939 was awarded to Leutnant Josef Stolz,in similar circumstances to Linde,in tackling a fortress position:

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Per ... StolzJ.htm

[tunabyte]

Not trying to hijack your thread, but I was looking for family information and came across your post. Otto was my grandfathers cousin. He is named after one of the early Vonderlinde's who was called Hans-Jurgen Vonderlinde. My father remembers his father telling him about Otto and what a decorated hero he was. I have been trying to find out the period in which the original Hans-Jurgen lived with no success. According to my father he remembers a large black book from when he was a child that said the name Hans-Jurgen Vonderlinde on the front of it. It had our entire family history in it and he does remember that Han-Jurgen was also called "Der Schwarze Ritter"(the black rider or knight). He said that everything they owned was lost during the war when a high ranking german officer decided that he wanted their house in Landsberg. My father was named after him with a slight variation Hans Ditmar. When my grandfather immigrated to the US after WWII, our family name was changed on the immigaration papers to Vanderlinde. I have thought about changing it back. A few years ago my father gave me our family crest ring which has been passed down from father to son for four hundred years. It is the only thing I have of our family history. I have searched the geneology websites and have come up with many names, but have not been able to link most of them. I am trying to find out more information about my family history for a book I would like to write eventually. If anyone has any information please let me know. I would be very interested in learning more.

[Wilfried Abenaschon]

Considering the award as a mere Leutnant, why didn't he receive any promotion subsequently??? Does anybody know?

Willab

[T.von der Linde]

Dear Turnabyte,
Otto von der Linde is my Grandfather. An amazing man all the way up to his passing. In his later years he took it upon himself to research our family background and managed to trace the history back to the early 13th century. It is pretty detailed. Since then our family has come together for family reunions on a regular basis. Several years ago my father Jost wrote his memoirs and accounted an incredible history.

Recently another person close to the family while they lived in Pommerania wrote his memoirs. It is a stunning book and my father and others who experienced the Russian invasion highly recommend it. The name of the book is "SURVIVAL ~ A Refugee Life" by Fred Bruemmer.

If you would like to contact me you certainly may.

[email protected]