Gerhard von Schwerin

Infobox Military Person
name=Gerhard Graf von Schwerin
lived=birth date|1899|6|23|df=y — death date and age|1980|10|29|1899|6|23|df=y
placeofbirth=Hanover
placeofdeath=Rottach-Egern


caption=Graf Gerhard von Schwerin
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|German Empire German Empire (to 1918)
flagicon|Germany Weimar Republic (to 1933)
flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
branch=Heer
serviceyears=
rank=General der Panzertruppen
commands=
unit=
battles=World War I
World War II
awards=Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
laterwork=politician

Gerhard ("Gerd") Helmuth Detloff Graf von Schwerin (23 June 1899 – 29 October 1980) was a German army "general" in World War II. As "General der Panzertruppe", he was tasked with defending the city of Aachen while in command of the 116th Panzer Division "Windhund" (the "Greyhound Division").

By the time the 3rd US Armored Division reached Aachen on 13 September 1944, the once-formidable 116. Panzer-Division had been reduced to 600 men, 12 tanks, and no artillery pieces. When he contemplated surrender to Allied forces in order to prevent civilian casualties and to protect the city's artifacts (the city was the ancient resting place of Charlemagne's empire, or the First Reich), Adolf Hitler had him removed and sent Colonel Gerhard Wilck to defend the city with around 5,000 Volkssturm.

Awards

* Wound Badge in Silver
* Infantry Assault Badge
* "Afrika" Cuffband
* Eisernes Kreuz 2. and 1. Klasse
* Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern
** Ritterkreuz (17 Jan 1942)
** 240. Eichenlaub (17 May 1943)
** 41. Schwerter (4 November 1943)

Notes

References

* Berger, Florian. "Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges". Wien, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger, 2006. ISBN 3-9501307-0-5.
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
* Rass, Christoph; Rohrkamp, René; Quadflieg, Peter M., General Graf von Schwerin und das Kriegsende in Aachen. Ereignis, Mythos, Analyse, Aachen 2007. ISBN 978-3-8322-6623-3.