Erwin Engelbrecht

Erwin Engelbrecht (12 November 1891 in Wildpark Potsdam - 8 April 1964 in Munich) was a German military officer. In January 1939 Engelbrecht was promoted to General, in September 1942 to General of Artillery. During 1939 - 1942 he was the commander of the 163rd Infantry Division (Engelbrecht Division), later he was assigned to special forces. In 1940, on board of German cruiser Blücher, he led the staff of forces designed to occupy Oslo. When the... more

Erwin Engelbrecht (12 November 1891 in Wildpark Potsdam - 8 April 1964 in Munich) was a German military officer. In January 1939 Engelbrecht was promoted to General, in September 1942 to General of Artillery. During 1939 - 1942 he was the commander of the 163rd Infantry Division (Engelbrecht Division), later he was assigned to special forces. In 1940, on board of German cruiser Blücher, he led the staff of forces designed to occupy Oslo. When the ship sunk he managed to escape. In 1941 the infantry division was allowed to cross Sweden to join Finnish forces in Karelia, the only such a large scale transit at a time (see transit of German troops through Scandinavia for details). Engelbrecht was awarded with Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz). less