Oberst Gerhard Matthiass

[Rudolf44]

Hello,

I'm looking for infos about the military career of this officer during the WWII. I have only this infos :

Born : ???
Died : ???

01.02.1938 Oberstleutnant
01.04.1940 Oberst

Kdr. III./IR 83 (1939)
Fhr. 306.ID (nov. 42)
Fhr. 78. Volks-Sturm-Div. (apr. 45)
Fhr. 75.ID (may 45)

Thanks in advance

[cesky67]

In the book "Das Buch der 78.Sturmdivision" his name is spelt as "Mathias" and there he is mentioned only once. It says as the divisional commander was wounded (april'45) and taken away to hospital, that Oberst Mathias was taking his place.

[Rudolf44]

Hello,

Thanks for your help. Does the book gives a more precise date as April 1945 ?

Best
Rudolf

[Rudolf44]

*push*

[Simon O.]

There's an oberst Gerhard Matthiash (spelling?), Kdr. Gr.Rgt.188 listed as winning the DKiG on 28.2.1945

[Rudolf44]

Hi Simon

Thanks !!
Despite the bad spelling, it appears to be the same person because we find exactly the same error here : http://www.maparchive.ru/division/pa...e-Division.pdf

If anyone can give me confirmation that this is the same person he is welcome

Best
Rudolf

[Dave Danner]

His personnel file has the same issue.

The name was originally Matthiaß, but he had it changed on 10 June 1932 to Matthiash. The file itself shows "Matthiaß" with the "ß" crossed out and replaced with "sh".

Among various documents in the file we find:

Matthiaß
Matthiash
Matthiahs
Matthias
Matthiass

Here is a summary of his career

Gerhard Karl Caesar Matthiash
* 16.06.1894 Rostock, Mecklenburg-Schwerin

26.04.13 Fahnenjunker, Gren.-Rgt. Nr. 10
18.12.13 Fähnrich
10.08.14 Leutnant, vorl. ohne Pat.
20.09.16 erhielt Pat. v. 10.11.14
01.05.24 Oberleutnant
01.02.29 Hauptmann
01.06.35 Major
01.02.38 Oberstleutnant
01.04.40 Oberst

01.10.35-28.02.38 Stab Kdtr. Berlin
01.03.38-05.02.40 Kdr. III./Inf.Rgt. 83
06.02.40-21.08.40 Kdr. Inf.Rgt. 526
22.08.40-01.11.42 Stabsoffz.z.b.V. beim Gen.d.Inf./Obfh.d.H.
02.11.42-25.12.42 m.d.F.b. 306.Inf.Div.
26.12.42-15.07.43 Fhr.Res.
16.07.43-19.03.44 Kdr. Sich.Rgt. 44
20.03.44-31.04.44 Fhr.Res.
01.05.44-xx.xx.45 Kdr. Gren.Rgt. 188

He was apparently relieved of command of the 306.ID and court-martialed for disobedience. He was ordered to hold a bridgehead at all costs but instead pulled back (306.ID was pretty much destroyed at the time anyway). He was sentenced on 22.01.43 by the court of Heeresgruppe Don to 3 years in prison and loss of rank. On 05.03.43 the loss of rank was canceled, and the imprisonment (Gefängnis) was replaced by fortress detention (Festungshaft). He served three months in fortress detention and the rest of the sentence was suspended. Apparently because of all of this, a recommendation for promotion to Generalmajor was denied on 01.10.44.

He was still in command of GR 188 in January 1945, and there are no more file entries after then.

[Dave Danner]

Decorations, for those who are interested:

10.10.14 Eisernes Kreuz 2.Kl.
21.12.14 Herzoglich Sachsen-Ernestinischer Hausorden, Ritterkreuz 2.Kl. mit Schwertern
10.04.15 Mecklenburg-Schwerinsches Militärverdienstkreuz 2.Kl.
03.11.15 Mecklenburg-Schwerinsches Militärverdienstkreuz 1.Kl.
12.05.17 Eisernes Kreuz 1.Kl.
xx.xx.18 Verwundetenabzeichen in schwarz
xx.xx.xx Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
02.10.36 Wehrmacht/Heer Dienstauszeichnung 4. bis 2.Kl.
30.09.36 Olympia-Ehrenzeichen 2.Kl.
06.09.38 Jugoslawischer Orden v. St. Sava 3.Kl.
31.03.39 Komturkreuz des Ordens der Krone von Italien
27.09.39 Spange "1939" zum EK2
22.08.39 Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938 mit der Spange "Prager Burg"
01.11.39 Spange "1939" zum EK1
05.09.42 Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2.Kl. mit Schwertern
28.02.45 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Regards

[Rudolf44]

Thanks a lot for your help Dave. Very appreciated

Best regards
Rudolf

[Dave Danner]

Hello,

Thanks for your help. Does the book gives a more precise date as April 1945 ?

Best
Rudolf

I just came across a copy of a teletype dated 10.4.45 with the following:

An H'Gruppe Mitte röm.2a

****

Mit Wirkung vom 6. April 1945 wird versetzt:
Oberst Matthiash, zuletzt Kampf-Kdt. Mährisch-Ostrau, in die Führ.Res. OKH unter gleichzeitiger Kommandierung zur H'Gruppe Mitte. Er wird mit der stellv. Führung der 78.Volks-Sturm-Div. beauftragt.

***

Regards,
Dave

[Rudolf44]

Hello Dave,

Mit Wirkung vom 6. April 1945 wird versetzt:
Oberst Matthiash, zuletzt Kampf-Kdt. Mährisch-Ostrau, in die Führ.Res. OKH unter gleichzeitiger Kommandierung zur H'Gruppe Mitte. Er wird mit der stellv. Führung der 78.Volks-Sturm-Div. beauftragt.

So, if I understand well, Matthiash was stellv. Fhr. of 78.Volks-Sturm-Div. from 06.04.1945 ?

Regards
Rudolf

[Dave Danner]

Yes

[Rudolf44]

Thanks Dave

Best Regards,
Rudolf