Haptmann Gerhard Tschierschwitz

Haptmann Gerhard Tschierschwitz

Gerhard Tschierschwitz, born in 1920 left school in 1938 and after serving in the fulfilling his Reich Labor Service duty (six months) he enrolled in the General Goring regiment of the Luftwaffe. Enrollment criteria for this unit was, at least initially, tougher than the Waffen SS. He would go on the serve with distinction in this elite outfit throughout the war.

At the outbreak of hostilities the regiment was held back in Germany as flak cover, playing a very limited role in the invasion of Poland. During the Western Campaigns, Tschierschwitz and the regiment participated in actions in Belgium and France, where the Flak units of the regiment did well against Allied armor.

On March 12th 1942 the Regiment was expanded to a Brigade size, and on October of that same year it was decided that it would be further expanded to a Division size. After training in Holland, the Division was sent to Africa to help the precarious situation in Tunisia, and though long battles were fought Germany was unable to stop the Allied advance. The Division was evacuated to Sicily, where they offered stiff resistance, and then Naples for the defense of mainland Italy.

The Herman Göring Division fought in Italy until July 5th, when it was sent to the Eastern front in Poland to attempt to stop the Soviet advance. Already a battle hardened group, the division performed well in combat and drew praises from Feldmarshall Model for its’ actions in the defense of Warsaw. In October 1944 was refitted and upgraded to a full Panzer Corp by adding a Panzergrenadier Division. Later the same month the Division was sent to East Prussia, where it joined the Grossdeutschland Panzer Division and came under the leadership of General der Panzetruppe Jauer. After pushing back the Russians at Nemersdorf during battles on the 21st and 22nd of that month, they entrenched in the area around Gumbinnen. For the next three months, the Division held the line and held the Soviets at bar, throwing their advances time after time. It was during this desperate struggle that Haptmann Gerhard Tschierschwitz was decorated with the Knights Cross for his command of the 2 Komapanie Panzer Regiment. Eventually the Russian winter offensive would force the Division back, but they continued to fight bitterly in retreat.

The Division would find themselves cut off by the Soviet advance in Heiligenbeil, but they were evacuated by sea the Denmark. They were then, severely short in manpower, grouped once again with the Grossdeutschland Panzer Korp, and returned to the fighting in the east. At the time of surrender they were defending the Dresden area, and upon hearing of the capitulation immediately set out to reach Allied lines. They were intercepted, however, and only few made it out to the relative safety of the western front. Haptmann Gerhard Tschierschwitz was among these captured by the Russians, and spent eight years in Soviet captivity until his release in 1953.