General der Panzertruppe Gustav Fritz Julius von Vaerst
Born: 19.04.1894 in Meiningen. Died: 10.10.1975.
Promotions:
15.07.1912 Fahnenjunker
17.12.1912 Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier
22.03.1913 F�hnrich
17.02.1914 Leutnant (mit Patent vom 21.03.1912)
18.04.1917 Oberleutnant
01.06.1924 Rittmeister
01.02.1934 Major
01.08.1936 Oberstleutnant
01.03.1939 Oberst (later granted RDA vom 01.08.1937)
01.09.1941 Generalmajor
01.12.1942 Generalleutnant
01.03.1943 General der Panzertruppe
Career:
Entered service as Fahnenjunker: 15. Jul. 1912
Commissioned/assigned to Husaren-Regiment 14: 17. Feb. 1914 -
20.01.1938 - 11.04.1939 Kommandeur of Sch�tzen-Regiment 2 / 2.Panzer-Division.
11.04.1939 - 31.05.1941 Kommandeur of 2.Sch�tzen-Brigade / 2.Panzer-Division.
01.06.1941 - 08.12.1941 Precise assignment unknown; apparently served for a time at the School for Mobile Troops in Krampnitz during this period.
09.12.1941 - 26.05.1942 Kommandeur of 15.Panzer-Division (m.d.F.b. until 12.12.1941, then permanent). Wounded in action in the Battle of Gazala (Libya), 26.05.1942 and hospitalized; temporarily succeeded by Oberst Eduard Crasemann.
08.07.1942 - 31.08.1942 Resumed command of 15.Panzer-Division.
31.08.1942 - 17.09.1942 F�hrer (m.d.F.b.) of the Deutschen Afrika Korps. Took over from the Chief of Staff, Oberst Fritz Bayerlein, who had temporarily assumed command when Walther Nehring was wounded in a British air attack at Alam Halfa early on the morning of 31.08.1942. Generalmajor Heinz von Randow assumed temporary command of 15.Panzer-Division. Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma was appointed to command the DAK on 01.09.1942, but apparently did not arrive in North Africa until 17.09.1942.
17.09.1942 - 11.11.1942 Resumed command of 15.Panzer-Division.
11.11.1942 - 28.02.1943 (?) On sick leave.
28.02.1943 - 09.05.1943 Oberbefehlshaber of 5.Panzer-Armee (North Africa).
Allied Captivity:
Surrendered the 5.Panzer-Armee to Lieutenant-General Omar N. Bradley's II Corps near Bizerta, Tunisia, 09.05.1943. Transferred to Trent Park Camp 11, 16.05.1943 - 01.06.1943, then held in variouis POW camps, with PW No 18808, until 1946/1947.
Decorations & Awards:
30.07.1940 Ritterkreuz des Eisernes Kreuzes as Oberst and Kdr. 2.Sch�tzen-Brigade, Western Campaign
1939 Spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse
1939 Spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
24.12.1916 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse
25.09.1914 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
00.00.194_ Panzerkampfabzeichen in Silber (?)
00.00.1942 Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Schwarz (?)
00.00.1943 �rmelband �Afrika�
29.11.1914 F�rstl. Schaumburg-Lippisches Kreuz f�r treue Dienste
30.05.1915 Herzogl. Sachsen-Meiningisches Ehrenkreuz f�r Verdienst im Kriege
ca. 1934 Ehrenkreuz f�r Frontk�mpfer
08.11.1938 Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. M�rz 1938
02.10.1936 Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung I. Klasse
02.10.1936 Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung III. Klasse
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