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Eugen-Heinrich Bleyer

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Eugen-Heinrich Bleyer
Born20 November 1896
Mainz, Grand Duchy of Hesse, German Empire
Died18 March 1979(1979-03-18) (aged 82)
Bad Tölz, Bavaria, Germany
Allegiance German Empire (to 1918)
 Weimar Republic (to 1933)
 Nazi Germany
Service / branchArmy (Wehrmacht)
Years of service1914–45
RankGeneralleutnant
Commands258. Infanterie-Division
181. Infanterie-Division
Battles / warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Eugen-Heinrich Bleyer (20 November 1896 – 18 March 1979) was a German general during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Biography

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Eugen-Heinrich Bleyer was born on 20 November 1896 in Mainz in the Grand Duchy of Hesse, German Empire, as the son of Heinrich Bleyer, a railway inspector, and Elise, née Zilles.[1]

Bleyer commenced his military service on 13 August 1914, shortly after the beginning of World War I, as a Fahnenjunker (officer candidate) in Infanterie-Leib-Regiment „Großherzogin“ (3. Großherzoglich Hessisches) Nr. 117. On 8 October 1914, he joined his regiment on the Western Front and was promoted to Leutnant (lieutenant) on 8 May 1915 (with a patent of 22 May 1914). He was transferred to Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 186 on 20 May 1915.[1]

Bleyer spent the entire war on the Western Front and was wounded five times.[1] For his achievements, he earned both classes of the Iron Cross, the Wound Badge in Gold, the Hessian General Honor Decoration "For Bravery" and the Hessian Warrior Decoration in Iron.[2]

Bleyer returned to Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 117 on 5 April 1919 and was soon transferred to the newly formed Reichswehr. He served initially in the Reichswehr-Infanterie-Regiment 36 and then in the Reichswehr-Schützen-Regiment 22 before being transferred to the 15. Infanterie-Regiment on 1 January 1921. On 1 July 1922, he received a seniority date as lieutenant of 1 September 1915. On 31 July 1925, he was promoted to Oberleutnant with effect from 1 April 1925. On 1 October 1930 he was transferred to the 1. Infanterie-Regiment and on 1 January 1931 he was named a company commander in that regiment. He was promoted to Hauptmann on 1 February 1931.[1]

With the formation of the Wehrmacht, Bleyer served as a company commander in Infanterie-Regiment Königsberg and in the Radfahr-Bataillon 1 (Bicycle Battalion 1), on the staff of the 29th Division, and on the staff of the Kommandantur Erfurt. He was promoted to Major on 1 January 1936 and Oberstleutnant on 1 February 1939.[1]

Early in World War II, Bleyer was named commander of the 1st Battalion of the 36th Infantry Regiment (Infanterie-Regiment 36) and led that battalion in the Western campaign. He was named commander of the 379th Infantry Regiment (Infanterie-Regiment 379) on 17 March 1941 and was promoted to Oberst on 1 January 1942. Bleyer commanded the regiment until 24 April 1943 when he was transferred to the Führerreserve (Leaders Reserve) in order to attend a divisional commander's course. On 1 October 1943, Bleyer was tasked with the leadership of the 258th Infantry Division. Upon his promotion to Generalmajor on 1 December 1943, he was named commander of the division. On 1 June 1944, he was promoted to Generalleutnant. From 1 October 1944, Bleyer commanded the 181st Infantry Division.[1]

Bleyer surrendered to the Yugoslavian troops in May 1945. In 1949 he was sentenced to death. However, in 1950, his sentence was commuted to 18 years in prison. He was released from prison in 1952.

After Bleyer's return to Germany, he was engaged in various social projects, for which he was awarded the Federal Republic of Germany's Merit Cross 1st Class.[3] Bleyer died in Bad Tölz, Bavaria on 18 March 1979.

Awards and decorations

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Bundesarchiv, Personalakte von Eugen Bleyer, BArch PERS 6/453
  2. ^ Ministry of the Reichswehr: Rangliste des Deutschen Reichsheeres, E.S. Mittler & Sohn, Berlin 1924, p. 183.
  3. ^ a b Bundesanzeiger. Vol. 20, No. 3 of 5 January 1968, pp. 1/2
  4. ^ a b c d Bundesarchiv, Generalskartei von Eugen Bleyer, BArch PERS 6/299413
  5. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 115.
  6. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 225

Bibliography

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  • Bradley, Dermot (1993). Die Generale des Heeres 1921–1945. Die militärischen Werdegänge der Generale, sowie der Ärzte, Veterinäre, Intendanten, Richter und Ministerialbeamten im Generalsrang. Band 2: v.Blanckensee–v.Czettritz und Neuhauß" [The Generals of the German Army 1921-1945: The Military Careers of the Generals, as well as the Doctors, Veterinarians, Intendants, Judges and Ministry Officials in Generals' Rank, Volume 2: v.Blanckensee–v.Czettritz und Neuhauß.] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio Verlag. ISBN 3-7648-2423-9.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945. Die Inhaber des Eisernen Kreuzes von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündete Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchivs, 2. Auflage [Knight's Cross Recipients 1939-1945. The Holders of the Iron Cross of the Army, Luftwaffe, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volksturm and Germany's Allies, According to the Documentation of the Federal Archives, 2nd Edition] (in German). Ranis/Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
Military offices
Preceded by
Generalleutnant Hanskurt Höcker
 Commander of 258th Infantry Division
1 October 1943 – 4 September 1944 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Generalleutnant Hermann Fischer
 Commander of 181st Infantry Division
1 October 1944 – May 1945 		Succeeded by
None
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