Rudolf Koch-Erpach

Rudolf Koch-Erpach (9 April 1886 – 28 November 1971) was an officer in the German Army (Heer) during World War II

Koch-Erpach was born in Munich, and eventually rose to the rank of General der Kavallerie (General of Cavalry). In 1939, he commanded the German 8th Infantry Division during the invasion of Poland. On 23 September 1939, Koch-Erpach was taken prisoner of war by Polish forces during the Battle of Krasnobród.

On 24 June 1940, after the Battle of France and while still commanding the German 8th Infantry Division, Koch-Erpach was awarded a Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

From 1 November 1940 to 1 March 1941, Koch-Erpach commanded the German LX Corps. After a short break, he briefly commanded the XXXV Corps from 1 April 1941 to 1 May 1941.

Koch-Erpach commanded Military District VIII from 1 May 1942 to 26 January 1945. The headquarters for this military district was Breslau and the district included Silesia, Sudetenland, parts of Moravia, and parts of southwestern Poland. Military District VIII ceased operations in February 1945.

From 26 January 1945 to 10 April 1945, Koch-Erpach experienced another command of brief duration as commander of the LVI Panzer Corps.

In March 1945 Koch-Erpach and his H.Q were encircled by the Red Army near Oppeln—present-day Opole. To bring him out of there, Generalfeldmarschall Ferdinand Schörner gave orders to an Estonian officer, Colonel Alfons Rebane from the 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, famous for breaking out of circles . Rebane picked 4 Estonian volunteers from his group and brought Koch-Erpach and his H.Q to safety with no casualties. For this Koch-Erpach suggested Rebane to be awarded with Oak leaves to his Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Later in 1945, Koch-Erpach was acting commander of the German 1st Army for two days before the war ended, from 6 May to 8 May. He died in Bad Boll.

Command history

• 1934–1935 Commanding Officer, 3rd Cavalry Brigade
• 1935–1940 General Officer Commanding, 8th Division
• 1940–1941 General Officer Commanding, LX Corps
• 1941 General Officer Commanding, XXXV Corps
• 1941–1942 Chief of Liaison Staff, Breslau
• 1942–1945 General Officer Commanding, Military District VIII
• 1945 General Officer Commanding, LVI Panzer Corps
• 1945 Acting General Officer Commanding, 1st Army

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Ottoman War Medal ("Gallipoli Star")
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• War Merit Cross with Swords
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• German Cross in Silver (24 November 1944)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 24 June 1940 as Generalleutnant and commander of 8 Infanterie-Division