Hermann von Oppeln-Bronikowski


Hermann von Oppeln-Bronikowski was an Olympic equestrian, winning a Gold Medal in the team dressage at the 1936 Olympics.
He won an Iron Cross in 1918 as a lieutenant during World War I.
A panzer general during World War II, in Poland in 1939 and then the Russian Front where he served with distinction, having several panzers shot out from under him and personally leading several ad hoc attacks. He was considered an excellent panzer commander, but had problems with higher authority as he was an excessive drinker. An Oberst commanding the 100th Panzer Division at Falaise, France; he was visited at 8.15 on 11 May 1944 by Rommel, who is satisfied with the forces' defensive preparations, but says to him – You're lazy stinkers, what happens if the enemy invasion begins before 8.30! Von Oppeln could only reply Catastrophe and Rommel laughs.
He commanded the 20th Panzer Division and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.
He died of a heart attack in 1966.

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