Gen.Lt. Karl Rhein

[Colonel Kurtz]

Hallo,

Can anybody provide me with Obst. and Gen.Maj. promotions with Rangdienstalter for Karl Rhein (1894-1988), and any assignments during the war ?

RKT - 06.03.1942 - Infanterie-Regiment 439 (134. Infanterie-Division),
DKiG - 26.12.1941

Rhein served as commander of 331. Infanterie-Division on the Loknya River front (northern Russia) from May to October 1943. I have no clue as to his posting between November 1943 to April 1944. During this time frame, Obst. Heinz Furbach deputized for Rhein, and 331. Infanterie-Division was disbanded following heavy casualties in Russian attacks north of the Nevel breakthrough in December 1943. Rhein and was reassigned to the division between April to July 1944, following its reformation on the English Channel. He was then transferred to the 295. Infanterie-Division in Norway from July 1944 to January 1945.

Obst. ????
Gen.Maj. ????
Gen.Lt. 01.11.1943 (6)

Also, any info on his battle performance as divisional commander would be interesting. I'm surprised to see this RKT being switched to Norway following the Normandy battles in late July 1944. Did Rhein suffer any battle fatigue in northern Russia / Normandy and unfit for major combat assignments ?

Thank you !

Photo (reduced) taken from this website
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 7#p1244167

[Dieter Zinke]

Gen.Lt. Karl Rhein

01.02.1941 Oberst (208)
28.06.1942 Patent vom 01.02.1941 (29b) erhalten
01.05.1943 Generalmajor

21.01.1943 Führerreserve
22.02.1943 mit der Führung der 331. Infanterie-Division beauftragt
01.05.1943 Kommandeur der 331. Infanterie-Division
01.01.1944 Führerreserve


Dieter Z.

[Colonel Kurtz]

Hello Dieter,

As always, thanks for the quick info.

In the incomplete "Rangliste" that I possess, there are not many Oberst promotions for 01.02.1941. Could there be a typo error for the (208) seniority rank for Rhein's promotion ? Instead, could he have been promoted Oberst on 01.02.1942 ? Over 300 Obersten were promoted on that date.

As an example, Alfred Kuzmany, 01.02.1942 (231) was reclassed 01.02.1941 (36c).

I know this to be a very minor detail, but I thought I'd point it out.

Thank you...

[Dieter Zinke]

My source ("Sammlung Krug") says 01.02.1941 !

Dieter Z.

[genstab]

I believe we have a mistake on Gen. Rhein's becoming Führer of 331. ID. I have 22-2-43, not 22-2-42. Keilig has Gen Dr Franz Beyer in command until 21-2-43 and Obst. Rhein from 22.2.43, Bradley says Gen. Beyer went into Führerreserve 22.2.43, and Mehner has Gen. Beyer until 21-2-43, then Obst. Rhein 22-2-43. The 1.12.42-31.5.43 Stellenbesetzung has Obst. Rhein from 22.2.43 also.

Best regards,
Genstab

[Dieter Zinke]

Oh là là,

I stand corrected, see my post from Tue Aug 10, 2010 4:53 pm !

Dieter Z.

[Glenn2438]

Dieter, Genstab

from my copy of the 1 May 1942 DAL A ; showings Oberst Rhein's Patent as 1.2.42 (208).

Regards
Glenn

[Glenn2438]

And from the DAL I of 1 May 1943 showing his promotion to Generalmajor. As Dieter states; an improvement to his original seniority as an Oberst by a year backdated to 01.02.1941 but not reflected in the published DALs.

Regards
Glenn

[histan]

Don't know if this is still a live issue but given below is information from his HPA files that shows he was indeed sick.

also Oberst 01.02.1942 (208) later changed to 01.02.1941 (29b)

Source NARA T-78 Roll 892

Regards

John

[graveland]

Thanks, John & Dieter.

[genstab]

General Rhein may have been at 295. ID earlier than his Generalskartei indicates. Madeja says he assumed command on 28.07.1944, relieving Gen Rudolf Dinter.

Best regards,
Bill

[Rudolf44]

Hello,

Does anyone can confirm that it's Rhein's signature on this document please ? Dated from mid July 1942.

Regards
Rudolf

[Rossano]

Sure it is mid july ? If it is the 134. ID I have him 01.07 - 06.07 as Fhr. i.V.

[histan]

The KTB for 134 Inf Div states:
"Der Herr Divisions-Kommandeur ist vom Urlaub zurück und hat die Führung der Division wieder übernomen"
KTB 134 Inf Div dated 28.07.1942"

This is all the information I have.

Regards

John

[Rudolf44]

Hello,

Sure it is mid july ?

Yes I am ! Here the first page of the document

Regards
Rudolf