Otto Benzin

Otto Benzin
From left to right: Benzin, Ude, Goebbels and von Hase, Berlin on 4 May 1943
Birth name	Otto Fritz Karl August Benzin
Birth date	23 November 1910(1910-11-23)
Place of birth	Pritzwalk, Landkreis Ostprignitz, Province of Brandenburg, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Death date	⚔ 29 June 1944 (aged 33)
Place of death	Babruysk region (Raum Bobruisk), Belarus, Eastern Front
Allegiance	Weimar Republic National Socialist Germany
Service/branch	Reichswehr Heer
Years of service	1928–1944
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel (posthumously)
Battles/wars	World War II Poland Campaign Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Siege of Leningrad Demyansk Pocket Operation Bagration ⚔
Awards	Iron Cross Close Combat Clasp Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Relations	∞ Liane Charlotte Saur

Otto Fritz Karl August Benzin (23 November 1910 – 29 June 1944) was a German officer of the Reichswehr and the Wehrmacht, finally Lieutenant Colonel, regimental commander and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves in World War II.

Life

Oak Leaves for Colonel Bronsart_von Schellendorff and Otto Benzin, Knight's Cross for Captain von Bonin, in: Caroliner Zeitung, No. 17, March 1944

fter graduating from school, Otto Benzin joined the Reichswehr in 1928 an would become a Unteroffizier (NCO) and a Feldwebel (Sergeant) of the infantry. In 1937, he was prompted to Oberfeldwebel (Sergeant Major) of the Infanterie-Regiment 89 and took part in the Poland Campaign. On 1 February 1940, he was promoted to Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant) and, after the Western Campaign, to Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant), some sources state at this point still a reserve officer, others state already an active officer.

At the beginning of the Russian campaign, he was commander of the 9th company. He was awarded the Knight's Cross on 31 December 1941 for special bravery in the Demyansk area. Promoted to Hauptmann (Captain) on 1 February 1942, he was promoted to Major exactly one year later. On 4 May 1943, Joseph Goebbels, Reich Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda and Gauleiter Berlin, welcomed a combat group from Demyansk under the leadership of Benzin. At Benzin's side Oberwachtmeister Otto Ude, at Goebbel's side Lieutenant General Paul von Hase.

In the winter of 1943/43, he was charged with the leadership of the 89th Grenadier Regiment. As its leader, he was awarded the Oak Leaves on 22 February 1944. After being wounded once again, he was appointed leader of the Grenadier-Regiment 531 near Bobruisk, Grenadier-Regiment 532 was commanded by Colonel Arthur Jüttner and the Grenadier-Regiment 533 by Bruno Meineke, all regiments belonged to the 383. Infanterie-Division.

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Knight's Cross 1941

Benzin’s reinforced 9. Kompanie launched an attack against Karnowschtschina on the morning of the 18 October 1941. The unit managed to achieve a surprise seizure of the village’s southern edge under covering fire from a half platoon of machine-guns. With this complete, the heavily fortified western edge of the village was then captured from the rear in bitter combat. 17 bunkers were stormed, and in their confusion, the Soviets set off two large electrically detonated mines to the west of their position. A detachment of Soviet reinforcements coming from the east was held up by the now relocated MG half platoon and then crushed in a close-quarter melee. Benzin and his men then went on to repeat this exercise at the village of Nossowitzy, once again hitting the Soviets in the rear and destroying them. Benzin would subsequently be awarded the Knight’s Cross for his actions on this day.

Oak Leaves 1944

The Oak Leaves were awarded for the achievements of his regiment during the second winter battle of Vitebsk. In this time, he and his men repeatedly prevented the Soviets from achieving a frontline penetration, recording particularly notable success in this regard on 9 and 10 February 1944. Benzin’s actions during this time were very important for the concluding of this battle in the Germans’ favour.

Death

While trying to break out of the enclosed city of Bobruisk, Major Benzin was killed in action at the Volchanka Bridge (Woltschankabrücke). He was posthumously promoted to Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel).

Awards and decorations

• Wehrmacht Long Service Award (Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung), 4th Class
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class on 27 May 1940
  • 1st Class on 4 July 1941
• Wound Badge (1939) in Black, Silver and Gold
• Winter Battle in the East 1941–42 Medal
• Infantry Assault Badge (Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen) in Silver
• Close Combat Clasp in Bronze
• Demyansk Shield (Demjanskschild)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 31 December 1941 as 1st Lieutenant and Commander of the 9th Company/Infanterie-Regiment 89
  • 406th Oak Leaves on 22 February 1944 as Major and Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 89

Gallery

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