Oberst Eberhard Graf von Nostitz

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Dr. Sandy Mitcham
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Oberst Eberhard Graf von Nostitz

#1

Post by Dr. Sandy Mitcham » 18 Jan 2009, 02:05

Does anyone have any information on Colonel Count Eberhard von Nostitz, the last chief of staff of the 2nd Panzer Army? What were his assignments? When/where was he born? When/where did he die?

Thanks in advance,
Sandy

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USAF1986
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Re: Colonel Count Eberhard von Nostitz

#2

Post by USAF1986 » 18 Jan 2009, 03:55

Dr. Mitcham,

Here is his capsule biography from the source cited below. I hope this helps out.

Best regards,
Shawn

NOSTITZ, Eberhard Graf von
Born: 15.02.1906

Dienststellungen:
R.R. 3
06.10.1936 3./Pz.Abw.Abt. 18 (Chef)
05.10.1937 Kriegsakademie
01.08.1939 z. Gen.St. kdrt.
26.08.1939 Stab 269. Inf.Div. (Ib)
05.11.1939 Gen.St. 18. Armee (Id)
20.04.1940 i.d. Gen.St. versetzt
01.05.1941 Führer-Reserve OKH, Dienst regelt Generalstab – Zentralabteilung
16.06.1941 Führer-Reserve OKH, Verb.Offz.OKH Pz.Grp. 4
01.07.1941 Gen.St. XXXXI. A.K. (mot) (Ia)
15.02.1942 Stab 7. Pz.Div. (Ia)
08.03.1942-01.05.1942 Stab 1. Pz.Div. kdrt. (Ia)
10.05.1943 Kriegsakademie (Lehrer)
15.02.1944 Führer-Reserve OKH, kdrt. Pz.Gr.West zbV
09.04.1944 kdrt. z.Chef Gen.St. d.H., zbV
01.05.1944 kdrt. Lehrgang f.Höh.Truppenfhr. (i.V. 1. GO)
20.07.1944 Chef Gen.St. LVII. Pz.K.
07.12.1944 Chef Gen.St. 2. Pz.Armee

Dienstränge:
01.01.1944 (28) Oberst

Auszeichnungen:
Dt.Kreuz in Gold: 03.06.1943, Obstlt.i.G., Ia 7. Pz.Div.

SOURCE: Zweng, Christian. Die Dienstlaufbahnen der Offiziere des Generalstabes des deutschen Heeres, 1935-1945, Band 2: L-Z. Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, Germany, 1998.


Dr. Sandy Mitcham
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Re: Oberst Eberhard Graf von Nostitz

#3

Post by Dr. Sandy Mitcham » 18 Jan 2009, 12:16

Thanks, USAF1986 !
Sincerely,
Sandy Mitcham

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Glenn2438
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Re: Oberst Eberhard Graf von Nostitz

#4

Post by Glenn2438 » 18 Jan 2009, 19:34

Sandy,

some promotion information:

Leutnant: 1.2.29 (6)
Oberleutnant: 1.2.33 (16)
Hauptmann: 1.4.36 (11)
Major: 1.6.40 (81a)
Oberstleutnant: 1.5.42 (5)

Regards
Glenn

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JC
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Re: Oberst Eberhard Graf von Nostitz

#5

Post by JC » 18 Jan 2009, 22:45

Did v.Nostitz briefly command 2 Pz.Div. in Sept '44?

BR...........JC

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Re: Oberst Eberhard Graf von Nostitz

#6

Post by HFK » 19 Jan 2009, 00:38

Hello jc, I don't find him listed as CO of Panzer Div 2. The CO from Aug 31, 44 to Dec 15, 44 was Generalmajor Henning Schönfeld. Regards, Harry

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JC
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Re: Oberst Eberhard Graf von Nostitz

#7

Post by JC » 19 Jan 2009, 04:05

Hi Harry,
HFK wrote:...The CO from Aug 31, 44 to Dec 15, 44 was Generalmajor Henning Schönfeld.
What's the source?

Keilig has Schönfeld starting Sept. 5 as does Mehner; Wegmann & Zweng and Die Deutschen Divisionen have him starting Sept. 21.

I know this kind of thing can sometime be hard to pin down, as occasionally, more than one date can apply. The real question for me is did someone fill-in at 2 Pz.Div. between v.Lüttwitz and Schönfeld. Wegmann & Zweng has Gustav-Adolf v.Nostitz-Wallwitz from Sept. 15 (I'm pretty sure that's wrong), while DDD says only "v.Nostitz" from Sept. 15. Most all sources have v.Lüttwitz taking over XXXXVII Pz.K. on Sept. 5!


Just tryin' to shine a little light in a dark corner....

BR............JC

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Re: Oberst Eberhard Graf von Nostitz

#8

Post by Jan-Hendrik » 19 Jan 2009, 11:52

Scherzer has Oberst Eberhard Graf von Nostitz as Fhr. of 2.z.Div. from 05.09.1944- 15.10.1944
Schönfeld as Kdr. 15.10.1944- 14.12.1944

Jan-Hendrik

Charles Steiner
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Re: Oberst Eberhard Graf von Nostitz

#9

Post by Charles Steiner » 19 Jan 2009, 15:55

Mmm, I've following persons in command of 2. Pz.-Div. :

Generalleutnant Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz Divisions-Kommandeur from 27.V.1944 till 05.IX.1944
Oberst Eberhard von Nostitz m.d.F.b. from 05.IX.1944 till 00.00.1944
Oberst Henning Schönfeld Divisions-Führer from 00.00.1944 - 31.XI.1944
Generalmajor Henning Schönfeld Divisons-Kommandeur from 01.XII.1944 - 14.XII.1944

Allthough I admire his professional approuch and the work he has done, I tend to have some reservations in some data Scherzer gives, but owing to vastness of his research, this is but a small flaw...

In what I've read, Oberst Eberhard von Nostitz was Chef der Gen. Stabs LVII Pz.-K. and would have been sent to replace Generalleutnant Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz, who took command of XXXXVII. Pz.-K. on 05.IX.1944, when General der Panzertruppen Hans Freiherr von Funck was relieved of his command and placed in the Führer-Reserve.

The dates tend to fluctuate a bit: in some sources, I've come across the date of 15.IX.1944 as von Lüttwitz taking over the command of von Funck, but I believe it has got something to do with military postings taking an official start on the beginning or halfway the month... In my opinion, the take over of this command was on 05.IX.1944.

In some sources, the end of von Lüttwitz' command is put on 31.VIII.1944. It is also noteworthy that von Lüttwitz was seriously wounded in the neck region during the outbreak of the Falaise gap. What happened then, I haven't been able to establish, but it seems that despite being wounded, von Lüttwitz remained with his badly mauled 2. Pz.-Div. Ehre verpflichtet ! it seems... Most likely, this date found it's origin in the procedure mentionned in the paragraph above...

The end date of von Nostitz' command I can't say with certainty... In most sources, 15.X.1944 is given, then again, I believe it is very possible that Oberst Henning Schönfeld would already have been present to be briefed on the situation before taking official command on 15.X.1944...

PS: F.J. Strauss gives Oberst von Nostitz-Wallwitz as of 15.IX.1944 till 15.X.1944 !!! He clearly confuses Oberst Eberhard von Nostitz with Oberst Gustav-Adolf von Nostitz-Wallwitz, who was at that time in command of 24. Pz.-Div. Errare humanum est !

Cheers,

Charles Steiner

Cheers,

Dr. Sandy Mitcham
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Re: Oberst Eberhard Graf von Nostitz

#10

Post by Dr. Sandy Mitcham » 21 Jan 2009, 07:22

Thanks, fellows!

I have him as commander of the 2nd Panzer Division from September 1, when Luettwitz finally when to the hospital, to attend to wounds suffered at Falaise. Luettwitz was named Funck's replacement as commander of the XXXXVII Panzer Corps on September 2 or 3 (depending on the source), although he did not take command until September 5. In any case, Nostitz remained commander of the 2nd Panzer until Schoenfeld arrived on Sept. 5.

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Re: Oberst Eberhard Graf von Nostitz

#11

Post by histan » 22 Jan 2009, 00:40

Sandy

From my notes taken from their HPA files:

von Lüttwitz FR 01.09.1944
mFb XXXXVII Pz Korps 05.09.1944

Gustav Adolf von Nostitz Wallwitz mFb 2 PD 01.09.1944
mFb 24 PD 21.09.1944

Alas, I don't have anything for Schönfeld.

HPA files in general show dates of appointment (which may or may not be the same as the actual date of taking command) and are not good at showing when someone left (except when transfer to FR), so what I have is consistent with your last post.

The question is still which von Nostitz took command? and is there a mistake in the HPA file for Gustav Adolf? and possibly also in the HPA file for Eberhard since there is no mention of him having this appointment in Zweng.

Regards

John

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Re: Oberst Eberhard Graf von Nostitz

#12

Post by Colonel Kurtz » 01 Nov 2009, 20:16

Hello folks,

Here is my two cents as to which von Nostitz was commander of 2. PzD in September 1944.

Obst. Gustav-Adolf von Nostitz-Wallwitz received his RK as commander of Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 89 (24. PzD) on 12. June 1944. I have no solid information if he stayed with this unit until his appointment to 2. PzD on 1. September 1944. I can only assume he did.

24. PzD was in Bessarabia at that time under AOK 8 (HGp Südukraine). In July-August, the division was transferred on the border of Poland and Slovakia (LIX AK - AOK 17 - HGp Nordukraine). It was in the sector of the Dukla Pass in which a Soviet offensive was launched on 8. September. A major tank battle was fought in the area in which control of Hill 534 changed more than twenty times. On 21. September the town of Dukla (southeast of the town) was captured by the Soviets. The battle raged on with the Soviets managing to capture the area of the strongly defended Slovakian border on 6. October 1944.

According to von Nostitz-Wallwitz's HPA file (thanks to John - histan), he was delegated with the leadership of 2. PzD on 1. September 1944. At this time, the unit was licking its wounds in the Eifel (I SS-PzK - AOK 7 - HGp B) following its battering in Normandy (Falaise). Von Nostitz-Wallwitz returned to command 24. PzD on 21. September 1944 in Slovakia in the middle of a major battle.

As to Obst. Eberhard Graf von Nostitz, he was Chef des Generalstabes of LVII PzK since July 1944 (AOK 8 - HGp Südukraine). This HQ was stationed in the Carpathians, to the north of the Soviet Jassy-Kishinev offensive. He would have left the corps HQ for three weeks and returned to his appointment until 7. December 1944.

Which Nostitz in command of 2. PzD ?
To choose between the two I'd have to go with Gustav-Adolf von Nostitz-Wallwitz. This is supported by his HPA file, although what's written in these files isn't always what happens in reality.

I find it hard to see Graf von Nostitz, a corps level chief-of-staff, taking leave of his posting following a major general offensive (to the south) to take temporary command of a division on a quiet sector of the front, only to return to his appointment a few weeks later. The LIX AK was subordinated to AOK 6 during the month of September and was repositioning its front after the Bessarabian debacle of August.

Von Nostitz-Wallwitz's situation may also seem ambiguous. He leaves command of an artillery regiment for a higher level command only to return to his former regiment's divisional command a few weeks later in the midst of a major battle. His former commander (Edelsheim) was promoted to an upper command (XXXXVIII PzK). Edelsheim's influence may have brought Nostwitz-Wallwitz to command of 2 PzD in the first place. Having comanded 24 PzD for well over a year, he most likely knew von Nostwitz-Wallwitz very well (he was with the division since at least 1941, having earned his DKiG on 1. December 1941 as an Oberstleutnant in the Artillery regiment of 1. Kavallerie-Division - forerunner to 24 PzD). This influence may have also brought a recommendation bringing von Nostwitz-Wallwitz back to 24 PzD while the battle was still raging on the Polish-Slovakian border.


Happy research ! :wink:
Last edited by Colonel Kurtz on 01 Nov 2009, 22:11, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Oberst Eberhard Graf von Nostitz

#13

Post by Jan-Hendrik » 01 Nov 2009, 21:27

Scherzers gives Eberhard as Div.Fhr. 2.Pz.Div. :wink:

Jan-Hendrik

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Re: Oberst Eberhard Graf von Nostitz

#14

Post by Colonel Kurtz » 01 Nov 2009, 22:23

Hello JH,

I'm aware of what you say about Scherzer. You had also stated it on your 19. January post.

What's your take on v. Nostitz-Wallwit'z HPA file ? Just a mix-up ? If so, the HPA was most likely staffed with the usual bean counters you find in adminstrative bureaus. They aren't the sharpest knives in the shed and this is reflected in their paper work. I work for a major police department and can state this as a fact. Ha! Ha!

If Eberhard von Nostitz was temporary commander of 2. PzD, who replaced him as chief-of-staff for LVII PzK ?

I have Obstlt. Ferdinand Edler von der Planitz beginning on 7. December 1944.

Thank you for your insight !

All the best !

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Re: Oberst Eberhard Graf von Nostitz

#15

Post by Ian Jewison » 22 Feb 2010, 15:45

Sorry I did not come across this sooner... I hope we can clear some dates up regarding
Henning Schönfeld:

According to his Personalakte:

16.11.43-31.8.44 Kommandeur Grenadier Regiment (mot.) 29
1.9.44-21.9.44 Führer Reserve OKH
21.9.44-31.11.44 Führer 2 Panzer Division
1.12.44-15.12.44 Kommandeur 2 Panzer Division
15.12.44-Ende Führer Reserve OKH

According to his Soldbuch:

1.4.1942 Oberst
1.12.1944 Generalmajor

26.7.44-6.9.44 Reserve Lazarett I Marienbad. (Schwellungen und rheumatische Arthritis)
8.9.-7.10.44 14. Divisions Führer Lehrgang

From judgement reports (Beurteilung):
General d. Panzertruppe v. Lüttwitz (XXXXVII Pz.Korps) Schönfeld was suitable as a commander of a Panzer or Panzergrenadier Division under less difficult conditions.

General d. Panzertruppe v. Manteuffel (5 Pz.Armee), Schönfeld was not suitable for command of a Panzer Division, however he felt he was fully suitable for command of a Panzergrenadier Division.

Generalfeldmarschall Walter Model (Hgr. B) from 4.3.1945 Schönfeld should be employed as an Infantry Division commander a.s.a.p.!

Generalfeldmarschall v. Rundstedt (OB West) from 10.3.1945, fully supports Generalmajor Schönfeld as Infantry Division commander.

/Ian

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