__NOTOC__ Hans von Obstfelder (6 September 1886 – 20 December 1976) was a German general ( General of the Infantry) in the

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the '' Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previo ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. He was a recipient of the

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (german: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), or simply the Knight's Cross (), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. The Knight ...

. In September 1941, during Operation Babarossa, the Nazi invasion of the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

, Obstfelder commanded the 29th Army Corp, which was among the first units of the Wehrmacht to reach

Kyiv Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the seventh-most populous city in Europe. Kyi ...

. In October 2021, against the background of official commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the

Babi Yar Babi Yar (russian: Ба́бий Яр) or Babyn Yar ( uk, Бабин Яр) is a ravine in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and a site of massacres carried out by Nazi Germany's forces during its campaign against the Soviet Union in World War II. T ...

Massacre, Obstfelder's name appeared among the 161 names of the perpetrators of that crime, released by the Babi Year Holocaust Memorial Center. Obstfelder was never tried for his involvement in the Babi Yar massacre.

Awards

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (german: link=no, Eisernes Kreuz, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1871–1918) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). King Frederick William III of Prussia es ...

(1914) 2nd Class (September 1914) & 1st Class (June 1915)Thomas 1998, p. 127. *

Clasp to the Iron Cross The Clasp to the Iron Cross (Spange zum Eisernen Kreuz) was a white metal medal clasp displayed on the uniforms of German Wehrmacht personnel who had been awarded the Iron Cross in World War I, and who again qualified for the decoration in World W ...

(1939) 2nd Class (20 September 1939) & 1st Class (29 September 1939) *

German Cross The War Order of the German Cross (german: Der Kriegsorden Deutsches Kreuz), normally abbreviated to the German Cross or ''Deutsches Kreuz'', was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 28 September 1941. It was awarded in two divisions: in gold for repe ...

in Gold on 21 April 1943 as '' General der Infantry'' and commanding general of the XXIX. ArmeekorpsPatzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 335. *

** Knight's Cross on 27 July 1941 as ''General der Infanterie'' and commanding general of the XXIX. ArmeekorpsScherzer 2007, p. 575. ** 251st Oak Leaves on 7 June 1943 as ''General der Infanterie'' and commanding general of the XXIX. Armeekorps ** 110th Swords on 5 November 1944 as ''General der Infanterie'' and commanding general of the LXXXVI. Armeekorps

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * * 1886 births 1976 deaths Babi Yar Holocaust perpetrators in Ukraine People from Steinbach-Hallenberg People from Hesse-Nassau German Army generals of World War II Generals of Infantry (Wehrmacht) Recipients of the Gold German Cross Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords German prisoners of war in World War II held by the United States Reichswehr personnel Military personnel from Thuringia German Army personnel of World War I {{Germany-mil-bio-stub