(Photo courtesy of Gareth Collins)
Generalleutnant Erpo Freiherr von Bodenhausen
Born: 12 Apr 1897 in Schloß Arnstein, District Kassel
Died: 09 May 1945 by Grobin, Kurland (Suicide)
Promotions:
Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier (01 Apr 1915); Leutnant (05 Jul 1915); Oberleutnant (31 Jul 1925); Hauptmann/Rittmeister (01 Dec 1931); Major (01 Mar 1936); Oberstleutnant (01 Apr 1939); Oberst (17 Dec 1941); Generalmajor (20 Apr 1943); Generalleutnant (01 Nov 1943)
Career:
Entered Army Service (02 Oct 1914)
Fahnenjunker in the 5th Dragoon-Regiment (02 Oct 1914-20 Apr 1915)
Platoon-Leader and Ordinance-Officer with the mobile Regiment in the Field (20 Apr 1915-19 Apr 1919)
Squadron-Officer in the Volunteer-Squadron of the 5th Dragoon-Regiment (19 Apr 1919-31 Aug 1919)
Detached as Auxiliary-Officer in the Staff of Group-Command 2 (31 Aug 1919-03 Dec 1919)
Squadron-Officer in the 11th Reichswehr-Cavalry-Regiment (03 Dec 1919-01 Apr 1920)
Squadron-Officer in the 16th Reichswehr-Mounted-Regiment (01 Apr 1920-01 Oct 1924)
Ordinance-Officer with the Staff of the 16th Mounted-Regiment (01 Oct 1924-01 Feb 1926)
Regiments-Adjutant of the 16th Mounted-Regiment (01 Feb 1926-01 Jun 1928)
At the same time, Detached to the Officer-Weapons-School-Course in Dresden (01 Oct 1926-20 Feb 1927)
Relieved for Command as Regiments-Adjutant, and Detached to the 1st Artillery-Regiment (01 Jun 1928-01 Oct 1928)
Detached to Subsidiary-Leadership-Training with the Staff of the 7th Division (01 Oct 1928-01 Jun 1929)
At the same time, Detached to the 6th Infantry-Regiment (01 Jun 1929-25 Sep 1929)
Transferred into the 16th Mounted-Regiment (01 Oct 1930-20 Mar 1931)
Detached to the Staff of the 3rd Cavalry-Division (20 Mar 1931-01 Apr 1931)
Transferred into the Staff of the 3rd Cavalry-Division (01 Apr 1931-01 Aug 1931)
Detached to the RWM, Personnel-Department (01 Aug 1931-01 Sep 1931)
Transferred into the Personnel-Department of the RWM (01 Sep 1931-01 Sep 1933)
Chief of the Training-Squadron of the 13th Mounted-Regiment (01 Sep 1933-01 Oct 1934)
Chief of the Training-Squadron of the Mounted-Regiment Hannover (01 Oct 1934-15 Oct 1935)
Chief of the 2nd Squadron of the 13th Mounted-Regiment (15 Oct 1935-15 May 1936)
Adjutant with the Staff of the 12th Division (15 May 1936-06 Oct 1936)
Transferred into the 13th Cavalry-Regiment (06 Oct 1936-10 Nov 1938)
Commander of the II. Battalion of the 8th Cavalry-Rifle-Regiment (10 Nov 1938-21 Dec 1940)
Commander of the 28th Rifle-Regiment (21 Dec 1940-28 May 1942)
Commander of the 23rd Rifle-Brigade (28 May 1942-08 Nov 1942)
Führer-Reserve OKH (08 Nov 1942-04 Jan 1943)
Course-Director at the Regiment-Leaders-School for Fast Troops, Panzer Troop School Wünsdorf (04 Jan 1943-20 Apr 1943)
Delegated with the Leadership of the 12th Panzer-Division (20 Apr 1943-01 May 1943)
Commander of the 12th Panzer-Division (01 May 1943-12 Apr 1945)
At the same time, was Delegated with the Leadership of the L. Army-Corps (12 Apr 1945-09 May 1945)
Committed Suicide (09 May 1945)

Decorations & Awards:
- Ritterkreuz: am 17.12.1943 als Generalmajor und Komm. der 12. Panzerdivision
- Deutsches Kreuz in Gold: am 31.01.1942 als Oberst und Komm. Schützen-Regiment 28
- 1939 EK I –S- 10.10.1939
- 1939 EK II –S- 22.09.1939
- 1914 EK I
- 1914 EK II
- Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918 in Schwarz
- Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
- Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung
- Panzerkampfabzeichen 01.11.1940
- Medaille “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/1942”
- Ärmelband “Kurland”


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