German Forces

General der Infanterie Alexander von Hartmann

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General der Infanterie ALEXANDER VON HARTMANN (*11.12.1890 in Berlin, +26.01.1943 KIA in Stalingrad). Commander of the 71st Infanterie-Division, Knight's Cross awarded on October 8th 1942). When the fate of his division and of the entire german 6th army was sealed General von Hartmann spoke to his officers: "An officer has to die in combat. I am not going to shoot myself but will sell my skin as expensive as possible." Then he took his rifle and entered the railroad embankment of Stalingrad South in front of the remains of his divsion (3 officers, 7 NCOs and 183 enlisted men) and started firing -standing uprightly and freehand- on the attacking russian soldiers. At 8:00 am he was killed by headshot, with him died Lieutenant Colonel Corduan (commander Infanterie-Regiment 191) and Major Bayerlein (commander Infanterie-Regiment 211).