Harald Freiherr von Elverfeldt

Harald Max Gustav August Freiherr von Elverfeldt was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded thePanzer Division. He was also a recipient of the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knights Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Harald Freiherr von Elverfeldt was born in 1900 in Hildesheim, the son of Major Ferdinand Johann Georg von Elverfeldt, who was attached to the Imperial Embassy in St. Petersburg. On March 25, 1918, in the final year of the First World War, Elverfeldt secured his patent as a Fhnrich in the 1st Foot Guards Regiment, was rushed through an officers training course, and sent into combat. He was wounded in May 1918 and was awarded the Iron Cross II. After the war he remained in the 100,000man Reichswehr and was promoted to Leutnant onNovember 1919. He married Elizabeth von Berg in 1923, and they had two daughters, the first in 1924 and the second in 1929. Elverfeldt was promoted to Oberleutnant in 1926, Hauptmann in 1933, and Major in 1937. He served in the 3rd Light Division during the Polish Campaign and was awarded the Iron Cross I and the clasp to the Iron Cross II. He was promoted to Oberstleutnant onNovember 1939.

Source: Wikipedia