Oberleutnant Erwin Horn

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=200 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="f4cc8c00dvldtc.jpg"> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="back"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><A HREF="id14.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fallschirmjager"><U><B>BACK</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=60 BGCOLOR="#262626" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Oberleutnant Erwin Horn</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=420 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#444444" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B><U><IMG SRC="1049b3e30.jpg" border=0 width="179" height="227" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></B></div> <div> <B>Image of Horn from his Wehrpas.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Under Construction</B></div> <div> <B>Born:</B></div> <div> 21 July 1913 in Hirschberg.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Units:</B></div> <div> 00.00.00-00.00.00   Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz- Brigade 12 (mot.) </div> <div> 00.00.00-05.07.45   Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 121</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1048ee140.jpg" border=0 width="750" height="532" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>Rank:</B></div> <div> 00.00.00   Oberleutnant</div> <div> 00.00.00</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Awards:</B></div> <div> 00.00.00   Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwerten (War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords)  </div> <div> 00.00.00   Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1. Klasse mit Schwerten (War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords)  </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>History:</B></div> <div> <B>1938</B></div> <div> <B>1939-40</B></div> <div> <B>1941</B></div> <div> <I><B>17 July 41</B></I></div> <div> <B>1942</B></div> <div> <B>1943</B></div> <div> <B>1944</B></div> <div> <I><B>17 May 44</B></I></div> <div> Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 12 had an authorized strength of thirty-one assault guns. The difference between paper and reality painted a different picture as the unit had yet to be supplied with any combat ready vehicles by this date. The crews were ready, but they had no armored vehicles to fight with! Although it is not known exactly when they received their sturmgeschutz, Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 12 was released to the command of II. Fallschirm-Korps on June 15. It is also not known if the Brigade had received its full complement of assault guns by this date. The Brigade was to have six StuG and three StuH in each battery. </div> <bR> <div> <B>1945</B></div> <div> <I><B>4 January 45</B></I></div> <div> The Brigade was brought up to full strength while stationed at Amersfoot (This is in Holland, not Germany). They received 10 StuGs and StuHs which finally brought them back up to an effective combat strength. </div> <bR> <div> <I><B>8 February 45</B></I></div> <div> The Brigade was attached to the 7 Fallschirmjager Division to provide support during the Reichswald battle. Their first battles occurred in the areas west of Cleve. They also fought in and around Venlo. For the remainder of the war the brigade was in near constant action against Allied armor as it was sent form sector to sector to shore up the line. </div> <bR> <div> <I><B>24 Maych 45</B></I></div> <div> Leutnant Heinz Deutsch had knocked out thirty-four Allied tanks by April 15th. On March 31, he destroyed five allied tanks in one day. On April 24, 1945 he destroyed a Jumbo Sherman at Edewecht to bring his total to 46. For these actions he received the Knight’s Cross. He was the only parachute assault gunner to be so decorated. His crew received the German Cross in Gold.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>28 March 45</B></I></div> <div> The unit is given its final designation as Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 121. </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="f4df4b10.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="177" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Sturmgeschütz of Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 121. ca. 1945</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>May 45</B></I></div> <div> As the war drew to a close the Brigade was to cross the Elbe River at Cuxhaven but this did not happen. Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 12 ended the war on May 8, 1945 in the Cuxhaven Pocket. The survivors were later interned at Wilhelmshaven. </div> <div> Over the course of less than a year, Fallschirm-Sturmgeschutz-Brigade 12 was credited with destroying 240 Allied tanks. The high scorer of the Brigade was Leutnant Deutsch. </div> <div> For two months after the war, the members of the Brigade were allowed to feed and administer themselves with the rest of the German military forces trapped in the pocket. The British forces in the sector were stretch too thin on the ground and too were busy managing the needs of the civilian population to risk any confrontation with the armed Germans. The survivors of the Cuxhaven Pocket finally laid down their weapons and marched in captivity in the summer of 1945. They were some of the last German military forces in Europe to do so.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> 2) Wehrpaß of Oberleutnant Erwin Horn. Wehrpaß was issued to Horn, who was born on 21 July 1913 in Hirschberg, on 15 April 1936 by the recruiting office in Hirschberg. Although Horn was a bank apprentice before the war, he worked as a Gauprüfer (Regional Inspector) for the D.A.F. (Deutsche Arbeitsfront, or German Labor Association). In school, he studied English, French and Spanish. Entries on page 4 indicate that Horn was awarded several sport’s badges. Horn volunteered for military service and served with multiple Flak (Anti-aircraft) units from 4 November 1936 to 10 February 1944. He received extensive training on various weapons, including the K 98 rifle, and various Flak guns, including the famous 88. He also attended multiple anti-aircraft courses. Horn moved up through the ranks and on 1 February 1942, he attained the rank of Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant). For his service, he was awarded the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords. According to pages 32 and 33, Horn and his Flak units fired at enemy bombers on multiple days (these days are noted as Flakbeschuß and Feindbeschuß days). From 8 February to 23 March 1944, Horn was assigned to the Sturmgeschütz-Lehrstab (Assault Gun Instructional Staff). On 24 March 1944, Horn was given command of the Stabsbatterie (Headquarters Battery) of Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz- Brigade 2 (mot.) (Parachute Assault Gun Brigade 2 [motorized]), which was renamed Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz- Brigade 12 (mot.) on 1 June 1944. Here is a listing in German of the commanders of the unit:</div> <div> Die Brigade 12 wurde ebenfalls bei Melun und Fontainebleau aufgestellt.</div> <div> Ihr Kommandeur wurde Hauptmann Gersteuer, zuletzt Major, Ritterkreuzträger (sp. Oberstlt. d. Bw.)</div> <div> Sein Adjutant war Willibald Schulz, die Batteriechefs waren</div> <div> Stabsbatterie Oblt. Horn</div> <div> 1.Batterie Hptm. Heinrichs</div> <div> 2.Batterie Oblt. Behne, später ab 15.7.44 Hptm. Raabe</div> <div> 3.Batterie Hptm. Krall</div> <div> This unit was under the command of the II. Fallschirm-Korps. For some reason, the engagements of Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 12 (mot.) were not updated in Horn’s Wehrpaß after 10 February 1944; however, I am quite sure he was deployed at Normandy and Arnhem (it is unclear what happened to Horn after September 1944). On 1 September 1944, Horn was awarded the War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords. This entry was signed by Hauptmann (Captain) Günther Gersteuer, who commanded Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz- Brigade 12 (mot.) and was awarded the Knight’s Cross. Here is information in German about the formation and deployment of Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz- Brigade 12:</div> <div> Fallschirm-Sturmgeschutz-Brigade 12 </div> <div> Originally formed in January 1944 in Melun (is located in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France), the unit was soon moved to the Donnmarie-Dontilly area south-east of Paris, with four Batteries as Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 2 der Luftwaffe. The unit was renamed Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 2 der Luftwaffe on March 26, 1944. In March the unit began the conversion into a full Brigade. It wasn’t until June 26, 1944 that the Brigade gained the Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 12 designation. It was planned to have the unit serve as permanent Korpstruppe under II. Fallschirm-Korps. </div> <div> On May 17, 1944, Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 12 had an authorized strength of thirty-one assault guns. The difference between paper and reality painted a different picture as the unit had yet to be supplied with any combat ready vehicles by this date. The crews were ready, but they had no armored vehicles to fight with! Although it is not known exactly when they received their sturmgeschutz, Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 12 was released to the command of II. Fallschirm-Korps on June 15. It is also not known if the Brigade had received its full complement of assault guns by this date. The Brigade was to have six StuG and three StuH in each battery. By June, the Brigade had received 22 StuG IIIs and 9 StuH 42s prior to its deployment in Normandy. </div> <div> Photo evidence show that through out the Normandy campaign, the StuGs of Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 12 were equipped with new production StuG IIIGs with saukopf/topfblende mantles, panzer-grenadier rails, and lacking schurzen. It is possible that the dense terrain of the French hedge rows made it impossible to keep the schurzen adequately secured. </div> <div> Even as the 12th Brigade was still training at the beginning of June it was rushed into action immediately after the Allied landings. On June 6, 1944 the unit was moved to the area south of St. Lo. The Brigade was attached to the 3. Fallschirm-Division. Under the command of Major Güther Gersteuer, the Brigade consisted of three batteries that each contained seven long-barreled StuGs and three StuHs. Engaged in the fighting on the Cotenin Peninsula, the Brigade reported eleven combat ready assault guns on June 27, 1944. </div> <div> On July 12th the 12th Brigade found itself rushed into the line to defend Hill 192, the miles east of St. Lo. By the end of the next day the badly mauled unit pulled back to help form a new defense line south of the St. Lo-Bayeux highway. </div> <div> After a month of fighting, it still reported having seven StuGs and three StuHs ready on July 29th. By the end of the Normandy campaign only single StuH would survive the Falaise Pocket. (Source A claims that 5 StuGs survived Normandy. Were their numbers further reduced in the Falaise Pocket or is there some confusion with when the Brigade was partially rebuilt in September?) The manpower with in the Brigade’s combat elements had been reduced to 60% and the support elements had about 90% when the Brigade crossed the Seine. </div> <div> From the east bank of the river, the unit traveled to Rouen to St. Quentin to Namur and Lüttich. The Brigade was then sent near Köln-Wahn, Germany to rebuild in September of 1944. At this time the unit is partially re-equipped with four rebuilt assault guns. This brought the total strength of the Brigade to a mere five assault guns. Some of these were StuG IVs. </div> <div> The surprise airborne attack of Operation Market-Garden quickly saw the remaining five sturmgeschutz back in action around Nijmegen against the US 82nd Airborne. The Brigade was to provide support to the newly formed 7 Fallschirmjäger Division on September 16, 1944. After the Allied assault on Arnhem the Brigade moved through Weeze and Wesel and was committed in the Wyler area in late September(9). Due to its limited combat strength the Brigade had little impact. Once the Germans had secured the front from the ill-fated Allied offensive, the 12th Brigade was once again returned to Germany to rebuild. </div> <div> On January 4, 1945 the Brigade was brought up to full strength while stationed at Amersfoot (This is in Holland, not Germany). They received 10 StuGs and StuHs which finally brought them back up to an effective combat strength. On February 8, 1945, the Brigade was attached to the 7 Fallschirmjager Division to provide support during the Reichswald battle. Their first battles occurred in the areas west of Cleve. They also fought in and around Venlo. </div> <div> For the remainder of the war the brigade was in near constant action against Allied armor as it was sent form sector to sector to shore up the line. </div> <div> Since March 24, 1945, Leutnant Heinz Deutsch had knocked out thirty-four Allied tanks by April 15th. On March 31, he destroyed five allied tanks in one day. On April 24, 1945 he destroyed a Jumbo Sherman at Edewecht to bring his total to 46. For these actions he received the Knight’s Cross. He was the only parachute assault gunner to be so decorated. His crew received the German Cross in Gold. </div> <div> On March 28, 1945 the unit is given its final designation as Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 121. </div> <div> As the war drew to a close the Brigade was to cross the Elbe River at Cuxhaven but this did not happen. Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 12 ended the war on May 8, 1945 in the Cuxhaven Pocket. The survivors were later interned at Wilhelmshaven. </div> <div> Over the course of less than a year, Fallschirm-Sturmgeschutz-Brigade 12 was credited with destroying 240 Allied tanks. The high scorer of the Brigade was Leutnant Deutsch. </div> <div> For two months after the war, the members of the Brigade were allowed to feed and administer themselves with the rest of the German military forces trapped in the pocket. The British forces in the sector were stretch too thin on the ground and too were busy managing the needs of the civilian population to risk any confrontation with the armed Germans. The survivors of the Cuxhaven Pocket finally laid down their weapons and marched in captivity in the summer of 1945. They were some of the last German military forces in Europe to do so.</div> <div> Oberleutnant Horn apparently survived the war since he is not listed on the German War Graves Commission’s website. I am asking $550 for Horn’s Wehrpaß, which includes domestic postage and PayPal fees.</div> <div> 2) Wehrpaß of Oberleutnant Erwin Horn. Wehrpaß was issued to Horn, who was born on 21 July 1913 in Hirschberg, on 15 April 1936 by the recruiting office in Hirschberg. Although Horn was a bank apprentice before the war, he worked as a Gauprüfer (Regional Inspector) for the D.A.F. (Deutsche Arbeitsfront, or German Labor Association). In school, he studied English, French and Spanish. Entries on page 4 indicate that Horn was awarded several sport’s badges. Horn volunteered for military service and served with multiple Flak (Anti-aircraft) units from 4 November 1936 to 10 February 1944. He received extensive training on various weapons, including the K 98 rifle, and various Flak guns, including the famous 88. He also attended multiple anti-aircraft courses. Horn moved up through the ranks and on 1 February 1942, he attained the rank of Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant). For his service, he was awarded the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords. According to pages 32 and 33, Horn and his Flak units fired at enemy bombers on multiple days (these days are noted as Flakbeschuß and Feindbeschuß days). From 8 February to 23 March 1944, Horn was assigned to the Sturmgeschütz-Lehrstab (Assault Gun Instructional Staff). On 24 March 1944, Horn was given command of the Stabsbatterie (Headquarters Battery) of Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz- Brigade 2 (mot.) (Parachute Assault Gun Brigade 2 [motorized]), which was renamed Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz- Brigade 12 (mot.) on 1 June 1944. Here is a listing in German of the commanders of the unit:</div> <div> Die Brigade 12 wurde ebenfalls bei Melun und Fontainebleau aufgestellt.</div> <div> Ihr Kommandeur wurde Hauptmann Gersteuer, zuletzt Major, Ritterkreuzträger (sp. Oberstlt. d. Bw.)</div> <div> Sein Adjutant war Willibald Schulz, die Batteriechefs waren</div> <div> Stabsbatterie Oblt. Horn</div> <div> 1.Batterie Hptm. Heinrichs</div> <div> 2.Batterie Oblt. Behne, später ab 15.7.44 Hptm. Raabe</div> <div> 3.Batterie Hptm. Krall</div> <div> This unit was under the command of the II. Fallschirm-Korps. For some reason, the engagements of Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 12 (mot.) were not updated in Horn’s Wehrpaß after 10 February 1944; however, I am quite sure he was deployed at Normandy and Arnhem (it is unclear what happened to Horn after September 1944). On 1 September 1944, Horn was awarded the War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords. This entry was signed by Hauptmann (Captain) Günther Gersteuer, who commanded Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz- Brigade 12 (mot.) and was awarded the Knight’s Cross. Here is information in German about the formation and deployment of Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz- Brigade 12:</div> <div> Fallschirm-Sturmgeschutz-Brigade 12 </div> <div> Originally formed in January 1944 in Melun (is located in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France), the unit was soon moved to the Donnmarie-Dontilly area south-east of Paris, with four Batteries as Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 2 der Luftwaffe. The unit was renamed Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 2 der Luftwaffe on March 26, 1944. In March the unit began the conversion into a full Brigade. It wasn’t until June 26, 1944 that the Brigade gained the Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 12 designation. It was planned to have the unit serve as permanent Korpstruppe under II. Fallschirm-Korps. </div> <div> On May 17, 1944, Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 12 had an authorized strength of thirty-one assault guns. The difference between paper and reality painted a different picture as the unit had yet to be supplied with any combat ready vehicles by this date. The crews were ready, but they had no armored vehicles to fight with! Although it is not known exactly when they received their sturmgeschutz, Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 12 was released to the command of II. Fallschirm-Korps on June 15. It is also not known if the Brigade had received its full complement of assault guns by this date. The Brigade was to have six StuG and three StuH in each battery. By June, the Brigade had received 22 StuG IIIs and 9 StuH 42s prior to its deployment in Normandy.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> Photo evidence show that through out the Normandy campaign, the StuGs of Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 12 were equipped with new production StuG IIIGs with saukopf/topfblende mantles, panzer-grenadier rails, and lacking schurzen. It is possible that the dense terrain of the French hedge rows made it impossible to keep the schurzen adequately secured. </div> <div> Even as the 12th Brigade was still training at the beginning of June it was rushed into action immediately after the Allied landings. On June 6, 1944 the unit was moved to the area south of St. Lo. The Brigade was attached to the 3. Fallschirm-Division. Under the command of Major Güther Gersteuer, the Brigade consisted of three batteries that each contained seven long-barreled StuGs and three StuHs. Engaged in the fighting on the Cotenin Peninsula, the Brigade reported eleven combat ready assault guns on June 27, 1944. </div> <div> On July 12th the 12th Brigade found itself rushed into the line to defend Hill 192, the miles east of St. Lo. By the end of the next day the badly mauled unit pulled back to help form a new defense line south of the St. Lo-Bayeux highway. </div> <div> After a month of fighting, it still reported having seven StuGs and three StuHs ready on July 29th. By the end of the Normandy campaign only single StuH would survive the Falaise Pocket. (Source A claims that 5 StuGs survived Normandy. Were their numbers further reduced in the Falaise Pocket or is there some confusion with when the Brigade was partially rebuilt in September?) The manpower with in the Brigade’s combat elements had been reduced to 60% and the support elements had about 90% when the Brigade crossed the Seine. </div> <div> From the east bank of the river, the unit traveled to Rouen to St. Quentin to Namur and Lüttich. The Brigade was then sent near Köln-Wahn, Germany to rebuild in September of 1944. At this time the unit is partially re-equipped with four rebuilt assault guns. This brought the total strength of the Brigade to a mere five assault guns. Some of these were StuG IVs. </div> <div> The surprise airborne attack of Operation Market-Garden quickly saw the remaining five sturmgeschutz back in action around Nijmegen against the US 82nd Airborne. The Brigade was to provide support to the newly formed 7 Fallschirmjäger Division on September 16, 1944. After the Allied assault on Arnhem the Brigade moved through Weeze and Wesel and was committed in the Wyler area in late September(9). Due to its limited combat strength the Brigade had little impact. Once the Germans had secured the front from the ill-fated Allied offensive, the 12th Brigade was once again returned to Germany to rebuild. </div> <div> On January 4, 1945 the Brigade was brought up to full strength while stationed at Amersfoot (This is in Holland, not Germany). They received 10 StuGs and StuHs which finally brought them back up to an effective combat strength. On February 8, 1945, the Brigade was attached to the 7 Fallschirmjager Division to provide support during the Reichswald battle. Their first battles occurred in the areas west of Cleve. They also fought in and around Venlo. </div> <div> For the remainder of the war the brigade was in near constant action against Allied armor as it was sent form sector to sector to shore up the line. </div> <div> Since March 24, 1945, Leutnant Heinz Deutsch had knocked out thirty-four Allied tanks by April 15th. On March 31, he destroyed five allied tanks in one day. On April 24, 1945 he destroyed a Jumbo Sherman at Edewecht to bring his total to 46. For these actions he received the Knight’s Cross. He was the only parachute assault gunner to be so decorated. His crew received the German Cross in Gold. </div> <div> On March 28, 1945 the unit is given its final designation as Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 121. </div> <div> As the war drew to a close the Brigade was to cross the Elbe River at Cuxhaven but this did not happen. Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 12 ended the war on May 8, 1945 in the Cuxhaven Pocket. The survivors were later interned at Wilhelmshaven. </div> <div> Over the course of less than a year, Fallschirm-Sturmgeschutz-Brigade 12 was credited with destroying 240 Allied tanks. The high scorer of the Brigade was Leutnant Deutsch. </div> <div> For two months after the war, the members of the Brigade were allowed to feed and administer themselves with the rest of the German military forces trapped in the pocket. The British forces in the sector were stretch too thin on the ground and too were busy managing the needs of the civilian population to risk any confrontation with the armed Germans. The survivors of the Cuxhaven Pocket finally laid down their weapons and marched in captivity in the summer of 1945. They were some of the last German military forces in Europe to do so.</div> <div> Oberleutnant Horn apparently survived the war since he is not listed on the German War Graves Commission’s website.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> </B></div> <div>   </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>