Wehrmacht Large Award Document for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross to Generalmajor Ernst Dehner
Large award document for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, awarded to Generalmajor Ernst Dehner, dated “Führerhauptquartier, 18 October 1941”. With facsimile ink signature of the Führer and Reich Chancellor “Adolf Hitler”. The document on large double-sheet parchment handwritten, the name of the recipient “Ernst Dehner” in raised gold. The Knight's Cross presentation case of red leather with gold-embossed national eagle. The interior covers with parchment mirrors and hand-gilded line border. On the reverse lower edge with signature “Frieda Thiersch”. The presentation case shows minimal signs of age, the corners only slightly bumped, the red retaining strap for the parchment sheet is detached at the top but completely intact. The document and case in good condition, complete with the original felt strip to protect the gold script.
Additionally a beautiful portrait photograph as reproduction and as photocopies the extensive military personnel file of Dehner, Knight's Cross index card, correspondence with the Federal Archives etc.
Ernst Dehner (born 5 March 1889 in Hersbruck; died 13 September 1970 in Königstein im Taunus). Dehner joined the Bavarian Army on 1 October 1908 as a one-year volunteer and served in the 14th Infantry Regiment “Hartmann”. After the outbreak of World War I, Dehner was wounded at the front in September 1914. From 1915 he was company commander in the 23rd Reserve Infantry Regiment. One year later he was captured by the French and remained a prisoner of war from 12 August 1916 to 15 December 1917. Subsequently he was interned in Switzerland until 8 August 1918 and finally returned to Germany. On 22 March 1918 promotion to Hauptmann. After 1918 transferred to the Reichswehr. In January 1929 he was transferred to the staff of the 6th Division in Military District VI. There he was promoted to Major on 1 February 1931. In 1934 he became commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 18th Infantry Regiment and later of the 2nd Battalion of Infantry Regiment “Münster”. In July 1934 he was promoted to Oberstleutnant. At the outbreak of war in 1939, Dehner (Oberst since 1 October 1936) was commander of Infantry Regiment 87.
On 1 October 1940 Dehner received his promotion to Generalmajor and on 22 November 1940 received command of the newly established 106th Infantry Division. His division was trained until June 1941 at the Wahn training ground and subsequently assigned to Army Group Center at Smolensk in central Russia. Dehner participated with his division in the double battle of Vyazma and Bryansk, the attack on Moscow. As part of Panzer Group 4 he experienced the winter battle before Moscow and the heavy withdrawal battles. From May 1942 the 106th ID, reduced to a battle group, was reconstituted in France within the 15th Army. There Ernst Dehner received his promotion to Generalleutnant on 1 October 1942. From 6 November 1942 Ernst Dehner received command of LXXXII Army Corps and was promoted to General der Infanterie on 1 December 1942. Effective 15 July 1943 he was transferred to the southeastern theater and received command of LXIX Reserve Army Corps in Croatia, which he led until 31 March 1944.
After some time in the Führer Reserve, Ernst Dehner was appointed on 5 August 1944 as successor to General der Infanterie Theodor Geib, who had fallen victim to an attack by French partisans on 30 July 1944 and died from its consequences on 26 November 1944, as Commander of Army Area Southern France. Dehner played a major role in organizing the subsequent withdrawal movement of the Wehrmacht from southern and western France. As of 17 November 1944 his office was formally dissolved and Dehner again placed in the Führer Reserve. From 22 January 1945 he was assigned as “General for Special Tasks” to Army Group A, but without conducting any major operations. On 8 May 1945 he was captured by American forces and released from captivity in 1947.
In the Generals in Southeast Europe Trial (Hostage Trial) he had to answer for his role in Yugoslavia. He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment on 19 February 1948. Dehner was released on 3 February 1951 together with 32 other prisoners from Landsberg War Crimes Prison.
Additionally a beautiful portrait photograph as reproduction and as photocopies the extensive military personnel file of Dehner, Knight's Cross index card, correspondence with the Federal Archives etc.
Ernst Dehner (born 5 March 1889 in Hersbruck; died 13 September 1970 in Königstein im Taunus). Dehner joined the Bavarian Army on 1 October 1908 as a one-year volunteer and served in the 14th Infantry Regiment “Hartmann”. After the outbreak of World War I, Dehner was wounded at the front in September 1914. From 1915 he was company commander in the 23rd Reserve Infantry Regiment. One year later he was captured by the French and remained a prisoner of war from 12 August 1916 to 15 December 1917. Subsequently he was interned in Switzerland until 8 August 1918 and finally returned to Germany. On 22 March 1918 promotion to Hauptmann. After 1918 transferred to the Reichswehr. In January 1929 he was transferred to the staff of the 6th Division in Military District VI. There he was promoted to Major on 1 February 1931. In 1934 he became commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 18th Infantry Regiment and later of the 2nd Battalion of Infantry Regiment “Münster”. In July 1934 he was promoted to Oberstleutnant. At the outbreak of war in 1939, Dehner (Oberst since 1 October 1936) was commander of Infantry Regiment 87.
On 1 October 1940 Dehner received his promotion to Generalmajor and on 22 November 1940 received command of the newly established 106th Infantry Division. His division was trained until June 1941 at the Wahn training ground and subsequently assigned to Army Group Center at Smolensk in central Russia. Dehner participated with his division in the double battle of Vyazma and Bryansk, the attack on Moscow. As part of Panzer Group 4 he experienced the winter battle before Moscow and the heavy withdrawal battles. From May 1942 the 106th ID, reduced to a battle group, was reconstituted in France within the 15th Army. There Ernst Dehner received his promotion to Generalleutnant on 1 October 1942. From 6 November 1942 Ernst Dehner received command of LXXXII Army Corps and was promoted to General der Infanterie on 1 December 1942. Effective 15 July 1943 he was transferred to the southeastern theater and received command of LXIX Reserve Army Corps in Croatia, which he led until 31 March 1944.
After some time in the Führer Reserve, Ernst Dehner was appointed on 5 August 1944 as successor to General der Infanterie Theodor Geib, who had fallen victim to an attack by French partisans on 30 July 1944 and died from its consequences on 26 November 1944, as Commander of Army Area Southern France. Dehner played a major role in organizing the subsequent withdrawal movement of the Wehrmacht from southern and western France. As of 17 November 1944 his office was formally dissolved and Dehner again placed in the Führer Reserve. From 22 January 1945 he was assigned as “General for Special Tasks” to Army Group A, but without conducting any major operations. On 8 May 1945 he was captured by American forces and released from captivity in 1947.
In the Generals in Southeast Europe Trial (Hostage Trial) he had to answer for his role in Yugoslavia. He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment on 19 February 1948. Dehner was released on 3 February 1951 together with 32 other prisoners from Landsberg War Crimes Prison.
