Leutnant Otto von der Linde

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Peter H
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Leutnant Otto von der Linde

#1

Post by Peter H » 18 Sep 2005, 14:20

Seeking information on Leutnant Otto von der Linde,the first junior officer of the German Army to be awarded the Pour le Merite, for his actions at Namur in 1914.

Any information on his later military career and/or photo would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Peter

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JPK
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#2

Post by JPK » 18 Sep 2005, 16:26

Bonjour Peter

From Ehren-Rangliste 1914.
Is he
- Lt Otto v.der Linde, 5.Garde Regiment zu Fuss ? or
- Lt v.der Linde, Jäger Bataillon Nr 14 [Stabswache d.GrHQu] H. aD
- Lt v.der Linde, Dragoner Regiment Nr 19 R. im RH (10 RR)
- Lt von der Linde Telegraphen Bataillon Nr 3 OL aD, zul im RH

From Rangliste 1.Mai 1925
- Rittmeister von der Linde 1.6.1922 3/10 (Preussisches)Reiiter Regiment

Amitiés
Jean


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Glenn2438
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#3

Post by Glenn2438 » 18 Sep 2005, 16:44

Peter, JPK,

Otto von der Linde, born 13 Jan 1892, died 23 May 1984 was the 5. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß Leutnant.

He was awarded the OPLM on the 18th of September 1914 for the capture of Fort de Malonne at Namur on the 24th of August 1914.

Linde was commissioned in 5. GRzF on 18 August 1913 and did not raise above the rank of Leutnant during WW1. Promoted to Oberleutnant on the 10th of March 1920 he left the Army on the 31st of March 1920. He became a reserve officer in the 1930s, serving initially with Infanterie-Regiment 5 being appointed as the commanding officer of I./I.R. 92 on the 1st of August 1939. During WW2 he successively commanded I./I.R. 5, Infanterie-Ersatz-Regiment 258 and Festungs-Grenadier-Regiment 654. Taken prisoner in May 1945 he was released on the 1st of October. He died at Wienhausen in Celle District.

Further promotions:

01 Apr 1936: Hauptmann d.R. (Patent of 1.1.1932)
01 Feb 1938: Major d.R
01 Apr 1941: Oberstleutnant d.R. (Patent of 1.4.1942)
01 Mar 1943: Oberst d.R.

Regards
Glenn

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Peter H
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#4

Post by Peter H » 19 Sep 2005, 01:52

Glenn,Jean,

Thanks for the assistance.

From http://www.pourlemerite.org/
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!!
von der Linde and Ernst Jünger were the only PLM holders still alive in early 1984.

Best regards,
Peter

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#5

Post by USAF1986 » 21 Sep 2005, 01:38

A photo of Otto von der Linde...

Best regards,
Shawn
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#6

Post by Peter H » 21 Sep 2005, 02:54

Thanks Shawn!

He was also awarded the 50 year Jubilee Golden Crown in 1964.Was this award for prominent WW1 veterans still alive then?Or an adjunct for having the PLM?

Best regards,
Peter

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#7

Post by USAF1986 » 24 Sep 2005, 22:27

On 18 July 1844, Friedrich Wilhelm IV established the 50 Year Jubilee Golden Crown to the PlM. It was awarded only to living recipients of the PlM celebrating the 50th anniversary of their having been decorated with the order. It would appear that surviving WWI PlM recipients privately purchased the crowns to affix to their badges as their 50th anniversaries began in the 1960s. I don’t believe these crowns were “awarded” by the German government as the military class of the PlM was then extinct. For instance, WWI fighter ace Josef Jacobs wore a modern copy of the PlM with an unusual 50-year crown device taken from a Knight’s Cross of the Royal Hohenzollern House Order. Generalleutnant a.D. Theo Osterkamp, head of the PlM association, presented this particular piece to Jacobs in 1968.

Best regards,
Shawn

SOURCES: Hamelman, William E. The History of the Prussian Pour le Mérite Order, Volume II: 1813-1888. Matthäus Publishers, Dallas, Texas, 1986; O’Connor, Neal W. Aviation Awards of Imperial Germany in World War I and the Men Who Earned Them – Volume II: Aviation Awards of the Kingdom of Prussia. Foundation of Aviation World War I, Princeton, New Jersey, 1990.

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Peter H
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#8

Post by Peter H » 25 Sep 2005, 14:55

Thanks Shawn.

Best regards,
Peter

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Glenn2438
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#9

Post by Glenn2438 » 10 Oct 2005, 18:59

Peter,

I came across a very interesting article in the 1986 edition of the Deutsches Soldatenjahrbuch in which Oberst d.R a.D. Otto von der Linde described his capture of Fort Malonne and his subsequent award of the OPLM. Linde recounts how as a then 22 year old platoon commander in 8./5. G.R.z.F. he was detailed by his battalion commander, Major Wilhelm Reinhard (later char. General der Infanterie and SS-Obergruppenführer) to take an officers' patrol to ascertain the situation at Fort malonne and the strength of its garrison. The Major added that if he should succeed in entering the place he should have himself taken to the fort's commander and make clear that any resistance would be futile. Finally Reinhard said "If you suceed in taking the fort by surprise, you'll get the Pour le mérite".

Young Linde was not particularly convinced about the OPLM: "He often said such things".

He took five men with him including two good French speakers and as we know convinced the Belgian commandant (Lieutenant-Colonel Ammand) to indeed hand over the fort. Some 6 officers, 20 NCOs and soldiers plus 2 15cm guns, 2 12cm guns, 1 21cm gun, 13 5.7cm guns and 4850 rounds were taken in total. The remainder of the garrison, about 400 strong took to their heels. For his exploit the young Linde expected to actually receive the then sill rare Iron Cross 2nd Class!

3. Garde-Infanterie-Division was subsequently sent to the eastern front and in early Setember Linde had still not received his EK2 (or for that matter had any of his subordinates). He recalls that on the 24th of September he was summoned by his company commander, Hauptmann Freiherr von Crailsheim. At that time a divisional order was in place that stipulated that backpacks were to be carried at all times icluding junior officers. On being summoned by the company commander the tired Linde disregarded this order and then to his horror ran into the Divisional commander and his staff. Hauptmann Baron von Crailsheim gave him a ticking off and warned him of the retribution to come!

It was not long in coming. In the early hours of the next morning he was again summoned by the company commander and was told to report to the Divisional Commander at 9 am the following morning in Pilica. "There I told you so!" warned the company commander.

On arrival at the Divisional headquarters he was met by the stony faced Divisional staff officer, Hauptmann von Wulfen and after a short while the dishevelled and dirty Lieutenant was ushered into the presence of Generalleutnant von Bonin and the assembled staff.

The General stepped forward to the saluting Leutnant and said:

"In the name of his Majesty, our Supreme Warlord I have the honour to present to you the Pour le mérite for your taking of Fort Malonne in Fortress Namur!"

Linde was stunned and only the applause from the divisional staff brought him back to earth. He was invited to breakfast with the General and then returned to his regiment. His companions in the taking of Fort Malonne were all subsequently awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class.

Regards
Glenn

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Peter H
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#10

Post by Peter H » 11 Oct 2005, 07:23

Glenn,

Thanks for sharing that information.

Regards,
Peter

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#11

Post by Jan-Hendrik » 29 May 2007, 14:04

Any information on his assignments in WW2 avaiable?

Jan-Hendrik

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#12

Post by Peter H » 29 May 2007, 14:48

Hi

As Glenn supplied:
He became a reserve officer in the 1930s, serving initially with Infanterie-Regiment 5 being appointed as the commanding officer of I./I.R. 92 on the 1st of August 1939. During WW2 he successively commanded I./I.R. 5, Infanterie-Ersatz-Regiment 258 and Festungs-Grenadier-Regiment 654. Taken prisoner in May 1945 he was released on the 1st of October.






From: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php
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#13

Post by Peter H » 01 Jul 2007, 10:27

WW2 Photo courtesy of Harmel

Image


Also commanded Georgische Legion 24.02.43 -30.04.43

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... ight=linde

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#14

Post by Jan-Hendrik » 01 Jul 2007, 10:59

Having gone through Gerhard Lubs impressive history of IR 1921-1945 the first mentioning of Oberstleutant von der Linde is on page 207 ( in prewar time I had not seen any mentioning of him, but as this period is covered in 146 pages it is possible that I have overseen him) for being Kdr. of I./IR 5 in March 1940. He was replaced by Oberstleutnant Loeeven in early 1941.

Jan-Hendrik

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Re: Linde

#15

Post by Rossano » 15 Mar 2016, 13:41

[quote="Glenn2438"]Peter, JPK,

Otto von der Linde, born 13 Jan 1892, died 23 May 1984 was the 5. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß Leutnant.

He was awarded the OPLM on the 18th of September 1914 for the capture of Fort de Malonne at Namur on the 24th of August 1914.

Linde was commissioned in 5. GRzF on 18 August 1913 and did not raise above the rank of Leutnant during WW1. Promoted to Oberleutnant on the 10th of March 1920 he left the Army on the 31st of March 1920. He became a reserve officer in the 1930s, serving initially with Infanterie-Regiment 5 being appointed as the commanding officer of I./I.R. 92 on the 1st of August 1939. During WW2 he successively commanded I./I.R. 5, Infanterie-Ersatz-Regiment 258 and Festungs-Grenadier-Regiment 654. Taken prisoner in May 1945 he was released on the 1st of October. He died at Wienhausen in Celle District.

Hello Glenn
I' m rather confused. In 1944 You assert that he commanded Fest.GR. 654, but according to Tessin this Rgt. didn' t exhist. Infact I have him commanding Fest.GR. 854 (344.ID) which seemed to me obvious/correct. But now I stumbled in this doc. issued in 1944 (from another Forum) which clearly shows in the stamp "GR. 354". So, 354 OK ?
Thanks, Rossano
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