Gustav-Adolf von Zangen
| Gustav-Adolf von Zangen | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 7 November 1892 Darmstadt |
| Died | 1 May 1964 (aged 71) Hanau |
| Allegiance |
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| Service/branch | Heer |
| Rank | General der Infanterie |
| Commands held | |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Gustav-Adolf von Zangen (7 November 1892 – 1 May 1964) was a German general and the commander of the German 15th Army in the Netherlands in 1944 during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
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[edit] Career
Zangen was born in Darmstadt in the Grand Duchy of Hesse. He was a veteran of World War I, receiving the honour of the Iron Cross and reached the rank of first lieutenant by the end of the Great War. He had earlier in the war commanded 17th Infantry Division in Russia, a Corps in France in 1943 and an Army detachment in Italy before being appointed to command the 15th Army on the Western Front. Having occupied the Pas de Calais during the 1944 campaign in France, Zangen was forced to evacuate his army, together with remnants of other divisions, across the Scheldt to the island of Walcheren and South Beveland. There, they were attacked during the Battle of the Scheldt 2 October-8 November 1944.[1]
He deployed his force against the Allied advance into Holland. On 24 October 1944 his headquarters in Dordrecht were bombed by the RAF. During the Ardennes offensive starting 16 December 1944, his 15th Army was tasked with fixing the British and U.S. forces north of the Bulge. see also Operation Blackcock, Operation Grenade.
Zangen was taken prisoner of war in April 1945 in the Ruhr Pocket.[2]
- 1938 - 1941 : Commanding Officer 88th Regiment
- 1941 - 1943 : General Officer Commanding 17th Division
- 1943 : General Officer Commanding LXXXIV Corps
- 1943 : General Officer Commanding LXXXVII Corps
- 1943 : General Officer Commanding Army Detachment von Zangen, Italy
- 1943 - 1944 :General Officer Commanding Lower Alps Zone, Italy
- 1944 : General Officer Commanding 15th Army, the Netherlands
He died in 1964 in Hanau.
[edit] Awards and decorations
- Iron Cross (1914)
- Wound Badge (1914)
- in Black
- Cross of Honor
- Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th to 1st Class
- West Wall Medal
- Iron Cross (1939)
- Eastern Front Medal
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 3-7648-2300-3.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Generalleutnant Ernst Güntzel |
Commander of 17. Infanterie-Division 25 December 1941 – 1 April 1943 |
Succeeded by Generalmajor Richard Zimmer |
| Preceded by General der Artillerie Hans Behlendorff |
Commander of LXXXIV. Armeekorps 1 April 1943 – 1 August 1943 |
Succeeded by General der Artillerie Erich Marcks |
| Preceded by General Hans von Salmuth |
Commander of 15. Armee 25 August 1944 – 18 April 1945 |
Succeeded by none |
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