Gotthard Eßbach
| Gotthard Eßbach | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth date | 29 March 1917 |
| Place of birth | Falkenstein, Vogtland, Province of Saxony, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire |
| Death date | 19 April 2001 (aged 84) |
| Place of death | Marburg an der Lahn, Landkreis Marburg-Biedenkopf, Hesse, Germany |
| Allegiance |  National Socialist Germany
|
| Service/branch |  Heer
|
| Years of service | 1936–1945 |
| Rank | Major i. G. |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Iron Cross Infantry Assault Badge Wound Badge Eastern Front Medal German Cross in Gold Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Gotthard Eßbach (sometimes also Essbach; 29 March 1917 – 19 April 2001) was a German officer of the Wehrmacht and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in World War II.
Contents
Life
After Gymnasium and Abitur in 1936, Eßbach joined the Infanterie-Regiment 31 in Plauen (Vogtland) as a volunteer and officer candidate. In May 1938, preparations for an attack on the Czechoslovakian border began, but the regiment remained in its garrisons. It was not until 1 October 1938 during the liberation of the Sudetenland that the regiment was moved to the Marienbad area. After just three days, the march back to our own garrisons began. In August 1939, the regiment was moved to the Militsch area to prepare for the Poland Campaign.
WWII
On 1 September 1939, the Polish border was crossed near Antonin, and on 2 September 1939, the Prosna was crossed near Grabow amid heavy fighting. Warta was reached on 5 September 1939, Lowicz on 9 September 1939 and Sochaczew on 10 September 1939. From here the regiment moved to the Glowno area and from 12 September 1939 attacked Polish units in the Bielawy area. After their defeat on 17 September 1939, the regiment marched via Bolimow and Grodzinsk to Ozarow. From 21 September 1939, the regiment marched into the Warsaw area and took part in the battles for the city. The regiment then moved to the Blonie area as a reserve. From here, on 16 October 1939, the march back to its own garrisons took place.
In March 1940, the regiment was relocated to the Gmünd / Keppeshausen area west of Neuerburg. From this area the regiment began its advance into France on 10 May 1940. On 11 May 1940, the Belgian-Luxembourg border was crossed at Lutremange and the regiment marched via Neufchateau to Bertrix. There were stubborn battles with French troops here. On 17 May 1940, the regiment attacked Mont Dieu and Hill 277. The fighting lasted until 30 May 1940 and resulted in heavy casualties on both sides. On 9 June 1940, the regiment's advance continued. There was heavy fighting around Neuvilly on 13 June 1940. After fighting for Verdun on 15 June 1940, the canal at Void was opened on 18 June 1940. After the end of the French campaign, the regiment was used for coastal protection (Küstenschutz) at the mouth of the Scheldt. On 20 November 1940, Eßbach was appointed commander of the 9th Company of his regiment.
In April 1941, the regiment was relocated to the Mielce area and prepared for the Operation Barbarossa. On 22 June 1941, the regiment crossed the border at Belzec and marched via Rawa Ruska, Mosty W. and Paplince. On 25 July 1941, the Vinnitsa-Napadowka line was reached under constant Russian counterattacks. The regiment then took part in the battles for the Uman pocket and advanced to Novo-Arkhangelsk amid heavy fighting. Cherkassy was reached on 22 August 1941 and fighting for the Dnieper crossings began on 23 August 1941 and lasted until 15 September 1941. On that day, the Dnieper could be crossed near Kremenchug. On 22 September 1941, larger enemy groups were surrounded near Orshiza; the subsequent encirclement battle lasted until 24 September 1941, with the regiment suffering heavy losses. After these battles were concluded, the regiment was relocated south to the Crimea together with the Army Reserve Division. On 15 November 1941, Eßbach was appointed regimental adjutant. From 17 December 1941, the regiment took part in the first attack on Sevastopol. The 2nd Battalion suffered heavy losses due to fire from its own smoke launchers, so that the regiment's attack had to be broken off. On 26 December 1941, the regiment's defensive battles against landed Red Army forces near Feodosya began.
After successfully leading his company at the Eastern Front and serving as adjutant, Eßbach, now Captain, was appointed commander of the I. Battalion. The Infanterie-Regiment 31 was renamed "Grenadier-Regiment 31" on 15 October 1942. On 1 March 1943, he was commanded to the staff of the 5th Mountain Division where he was promoted to Major in May 1943. As of 1 September 1943, he served with the L. Armeekorps (50th Army Corps). On 6 December 1943, he was transferred to the War Academy for training as a general staff officer. As such, he was commanded to the Wehrmacht General Staff on 7 May 1944 (officially transferred on 1 August 1944). From 25 May to 20 June 1944, he attended the transport course for general staff officers. He was appointed Ib (Second General Staff Officer and Quartermaster/Chief Supply Officer) of the 232. Infanterie-Division.
On 1 March 1945, he was appointed Chief of Operations (Ia) in the General Staff of the XXXXIII. Armee-Korps as part of the 8th Army in northern Hungary. After the loss of the Danube bridgehead of Gran and the Russian offensive across the Waag section, the XXXXIII. Armee-Korps pushed back from Slovakia to Znojmo. In mid-April 1945, the corps was deployed to defend against the Russian units advancing in Weinviertel, Lower Austria. In May 1945, the corps surrendered to American troops in the Linz area.
Knight's Cross
The following wartime excerpt describes why Eßbach would be awarded the Knight’s Cross:
- “The bold deed of delivering the only undamaged bridge at Cherkassy into the hands of the corps [XXXXIV. Armeekorps/Panzergruppe 1/Heeresgruppe Süd] produced an importance success for the further prosecution of combat. This action was conducted on his own initiative and carried out with great energy and skillful employment of the available forces. The costly fighting in the following days on the great island would have been substantially more difficult to conduct successfully without possession of this bridge." The deed described in this excerpt took place on the 22 August 1941. On this day, Eßbach’s 9th Company crossed over to the first Dnieper island and advanced to a still intact bridge that led to the much larger second island in the middle of the river. Eßbach decided to storm this bridge with elements of his company and succeeded in seizing both the structure itself as well as a small bridgehead on the Dnieper island. This was captured in its entirety on the following day.[1]
Promotions
- 1 September 1938 Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
- 19 July 1941 Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
- 1942 Hauptmann (Captain)
- 1 May 1943 Major[2]
- later reclassified as Major im Generalstab (Major in General Staff)
Awards and decorations (excerpt)
- Sudetenland Commemorative Medal
- Iron Cross (1939), 2nd and 1st Class
- 1st Class on 3 July 1940[3]
- Infantry Assault Badge (Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen) in Silver
- Wound Badge (1939) in Black
- Winter Battle in the East 1941–42 Medal
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 22 September 1941 as Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant) and Commander of the 9th Company/III. Battalion/Infanterie-Regiment 31/24. Infanterie-Division
- German Cross in Gold on 23 January 1943 as Hauptmann (Captain) and Commander of the I. Battalion/Grenadier-Regiment 31/24. Infanterie-Division
