Heinz-Georg Lemm

Martin Steglich, French and Heinz-Georg Lemm

Martin Steglich, French and Heinz-Georg Lemm

Martin Steglich (left), French (center) and Heinz-Georg Lemm (right.)  Just listening to these two veterans of almost six years of combat in World War II was a historical experience all by itself.  They knew everything about the infantry regiment, the backbone of the German Army.  Both began the war as lieutenants and platoon leaders, and ended the war as Infantry regimental commanders.

Martin Steglich, French and Heinz-Georg Lemm2015-09-11T11:51:10-05:00

Martin Steglich, Heinz-Georg Lemm and Walther-Peer Fellgiebel

Martin Steglich, Heinz-Georg Lemm and Walther-Peer Fellgiebel

Martin Steglich (left), Heinz-Georg Lemm and Walther-Peer Fellgiebel (right.)  All sat with French at the Knight’s Cross reunion, where this picture was taken.  General Lemm was Martin Steglich’s best friend.  Walther’s father was General Erich Fellgiebel, who was a conspirator in the July 20 “Bomb Plot” against Hitler and who was executed on September 4, 1944.  Heinz-Georg Lemm would go on to win the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, making him one of Germany’s most distinguished soldiers.

Martin Steglich, Heinz-Georg Lemm and Walther-Peer Fellgiebel2015-09-11T11:55:31-05:00

Martin Steglich

Wartime photo of Martin Steglich. After Desert Storm, he said the American Army had become the “Sons of the Blitzkrieg.”

Martin Steglich, a Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves winner, was born in Breslau on July 16, 1915.  As with his friend, Heinz-Georg Lemm, Steglich’s early career saw him assigned to the 12th Infantry Division, serving many positions in the 27th Infantry Regiment in Poland, France and Russia (including the encirclement at the Demjansk Pocket.)  During this encirclement, Lieutenant Steglich was flown out of the pocket and to Berlin, where he briefed Adolf Hitler on the situation and had lunch with the German leader and his entourage!  Martin Steglich won the Iron Cross Second Class on September 14, 1939, the Iron Cross First Class on June 27, 1940 and the Honor Roll Clasp of the Army on July 28, 1941.  He gave his Infantry Assault Badge to Major MacLean in 1991 after “Desert Storm.”  Martin Steglich received several serious wounds during the war and finished the conflict as the commander of the 1221st Grenadier Regiment in the 180th Infantry Division, defending the Rhineland.  He received the Oak Leaves on April 5, 1945.  About that time, he was seriously wounded by bullets from a strafing Allied aircraft, striking him in the mouth and foot.

Between tours at the front, Martin Steglich wrote training doctrine and prepared several training films, including how to destroy a tank in close combat.

Martin Steglich joined the Bundeswehr in the mid-1950s; he was promoted to the grade of oberst (colonel) on August 1, 1962.  He owned a furniture store and lived in Ruppichteroth (in a house he nicknamed Haus MaRo) with his wife and three daughters, until his death on October 20, 1997.  Martin had little interest in politics and was truly a gentleman of the old school.

Funeral Notice for Martin Steglich

 

Grave of Martin Steglich shortly after his funeral

Martin Steglich2016-03-28T19:31:43-05:00

Heinz-Georg Lemm

Wartime photo of Heinz-Georg Lemm

Born on June 1, 1919 in Schwerin, Heinz-Georg Lemm was one of the most highly decorated soldiers in World War II Germany, winning the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. His early career saw him assigned to the 12th Infantry Division, serving many positions in the 27th Infantry Regiment in Poland, France and Russia (including the encirclement at the Demjansk Pocket.)  In addition to these awards, Lemm won the Tank Destruction Badge, Close Combat Badge in Silver, Wound Badge in Silver and the German Cross in Gold. He ended the war as an oberst (the youngest in the German Army) and the commander of the 27th Fusilier Regiment, having fought with the unit against American forces in the Battle of the Bulge.

In a discussion with Major MacLean in 1991, Heinz Georg-Lemm stated that he was at Hitler’s headquarters at Rastenburg on July 20 to receive the Oak Leaves to his Knight’s Cross.  As the day was hot, the officers’ mess was moved from inside a building to outside under several trees.  Major Lemm sat down at a table and shortly after, another officer sat down beside him. It would turn out to be Oberst Claus von Stauffenberg, who engaged in small talk before leaving, telling Major Lemm that he had to get ready to brief Hitler.  The bomb in von Stauffenberg’s brief case later exploded near Hitler in the briefing room, and Lemm’s award ceremony was postponed until the following day.  But someone remembered that von Stauffenberg had conversed with Lemm and for several hours, interrogators asked Major Lemm what the two had discussed, before finally clearing him of any potential complicity in the assassination attempt.

Heinz-Georg Lemm was a prisoner of American forces for ten months, until 1946.  He was then transferred to Soviet control and confined to a Soviet prisoner of war camp until 1950, when he returned to Germany. In 1957, Heinz-Georg Lemm joined the post-war German Bundeswehr (Post-WWII German Army) and progressed to the rank of lieutenant general.  He commanded the 5th Panzer Division and the Troop Office of the Bundeswehr before retiring on September 30, 1979.  He then led the Association for Knight’s Cross Recipients.  General Lemm retired to the small village of Ruppichteroth, northeast of Bonn, to be closer to his old Army friend and fellow Knight’s Cross winner, Martin Steglich.  Heinz-Georg Lemm died on November 17, 1994.

Heinz-Georg Lemm2016-03-28T19:38:08-05:00
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