Nikolaus von Vormann (24 December 1895 – 26 October 1959) was a German general who served in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany.

Nikolaus von Vormann
Born(1895-12-24)24 December 1895
Neumark, German Empire
Died26 October 1959(1959-10-26) (aged 63)
Berchtesgaden, Bavaria West Germany
Allegiance German Empire (1914-1918)
 Weimar Republic (1918-1933)
 Nazi Germany (1933-1945)
Service / branchArmy
Years of service1914–45
Rank General der Panzertruppe
Commands23rd Panzer Division
XLVII Panzer Corps
9th Army
Battles / warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross with Swords of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern
German Cross in Gold
Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class

General von Vormann was born in Neumark, West Prussia, German Empire. He joined the Prussian Army in 1914 and served in World War I and remained in the Weimar German Reichswehr. In World War II he served on the Eastern Front campaigns and in 1944 briefly commanded the 9th Army. During this brief interval, he became involved in the suppression of the Warsaw Uprising, although the main responsibility for the wanton destruction of the Polish capital and the massacre of its inhabitants laid with the SS-generals Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski and Heinz Reinefarth. On 4 May 1945, as the Allies approached during the closing days of World War II, von Vormann's last appointment was as commander of the largely non-existent "Alpenfestung" (Alpine Fortress). He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Vormann wrote two books documenting his war-time experiences: Der Feldzug 1939 in Polen and Tscherkassy. He died on 26 October 1959 in Berchtesgaden.[1][2]

Promotions

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  • General der Panzertruppe (General of the Armored Corps) - 27 June 1944, with seniority date of 1 December 1943
  • Generalleutnant (Lieutenant General) - 1 July 1943
  • Generalmajor (Major General) - 31 January 1943, with seniority date of 1 January 1943
  • Oberst (Colonel) - 1 September 1940
  • Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) - 1 August 1938
  • Major (Major) - 1 November 1935, with seniority date of 1 October 1935
  • Hauptmann (Captain) - 30 May 1932, with seniority date of 1 June 1930
  • Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant) - 1 February 1926, with seniority date of 1 April 1925
  • Leutnant (Second Lieutenant) - 29 January 1915, with seniority date of 18 January 1915
  • Kadett (Cadet) - Until 3 August 1914 when became war volunteer in the Royal Prussian Army

Awards and decorations

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References

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  1. ^ Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  2. ^ Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  3. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 490.
  4. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 762.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander of 23. Panzer-Division
26 December 1942 – 24 October 1943
Succeeded by
Generalmajor Ewald Kräber
Preceded by
Generalleutnant Rudolf von Bünau
Commander of XLVII. Panzerkorps
December 1943 – March 1944
Succeeded by
General der Panzertruppe Hans Freiherr von Funck
Preceded by
General der Infanterie Hans Jordan
Commander of 9. Armee
27 June 1944 – 31 August 1944
Succeeded by
General der Panzertruppe Smilo Freiherr von Lüttwitz