20 Facts About Eduard Crasemann

Eduard Crasemann was a German General der Artillerie in the Wehrmacht and convicted war criminal who commanded several Panzer divisions during World War II.

Eduard Crasemann served in the Battle of France and the Western Desert Campaign as a battalion- and regimental-level commander.

Eduard Crasemann was briefly acting commander of the 15th Panzer Division in mid-1942.

Eduard Crasemann then commanded the XII SS Army Corps from January to April 1945 until it surrendered to United States troops.

Eduard Crasemann was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany.

Eduard Crasemann was commissioned as a Leutnant in the 46th Field Artillery Regiment the following year.

Eduard Crasemann's regiment was attached to the 20th Infantry Division during World War I and he saw extensive service on the Western Front from August 1914 to March 1915 at which time the division was transferred to the Eastern Front.

Eduard Crasemann was awarded the Iron Cross, 1st Class, for his part in these battles.

Eduard Crasemann had only just returned to his regular duties as regimental adjutant in November 1917 when he was appointed to the General Staff of the Army and posted to the headquarters of the Marinekorps, which provided naval personnel serving as infantry in Belgium.

Eduard Crasemann remained here for six months before taking a post with the 35th Infantry Division as its quartermaster, which was serving in Belgium.

Eduard Crasemann returned to his original regiment and became a battalion commander.

Eduard Crasemann applied to continue to serve with the newly formed Reichswehr but was declined and subsequently left the military in April 1919.

Eduard Crasemann led the division through the Battle of Gazala and, along with the rest of Rommel's forces, contributed to the British defeat.

The Afrika Korps was now in retreat from Egypt and it had withdrawn to Tripolitania when, on 17 January 1943, Eduard Crasemann was dispatched back to Germany and placed in reserve.

Eduard Crasemann performed well in the fighting around Orel from mid-July to mid-August and on 1 September 1943 was given a posting to XXIV Panzer Corps as commander of 143rd Artillery Command.

However, the following month Boelsen took over the 18th Panzergrenadier Division while Eduard Crasemann became the permanent commander of 26th Panzer Division.

Eduard Crasemann was awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross.

Eduard Crasemann was appointed commander of XII SS Army Corps, 15th Army, in early 1945, taking over from General der Infanterie Gunther Blumentritt.

Eduard Crasemann was found guilty of war crimes and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

Eduard Crasemann spent the rest of his life in prison, dying of unknown causes in Werl Prison on 28 April 1950.