Alfred-Hermann Reinhardt

Alfred-Hermann Reinhardt (15 November 1897 – 15 January 1973) was a highly decorated German Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords of Nazi Germany.

A veteran of both World Wars, Reinhardt began his career as Private during World War I and distinguished himself several times. He served with the Police units during the interwar period, before he was transferred back to the Army following Adolf Hitler's rise to power. Reinhardt held all field commands from Platoon to Divisional level and participated in combats mostly on Eastern and Italian Fronts.

Alfred-Hermann Reinhardt was born on 11 November 1897 in the village of Affalterbach near Backnang, Württemberg as the son of a teacher Ferdinand Reinhard and his wife Amalie. Following his schooling and passing his Abitur, he decided to enlist the German Army during the ongoing World War I. In early January 1916, Reinhardt was assigned as Kriegsfreiwilliger (roughly equivalent to the rank of Private) to the replacement battalion of 123th Grenadier Regiment “König Karl” in Ulm and following his basic training, he was ordered to France, where his regiment participated in the combats on the river of Yser.

During the next three years, Reinhardt took part in the combats on Somme, Arras or Flanders, being wounded in action and received both classes of Prussian Iron Cross and Württemberg Bravery Medal in Silver for his service. He was promoted to Vizefeldwebel (Sergeant) and Officer aspirant in September 1918 and ordered to Isny, where he underwent Machine gun course. Reinhardt completed the course one month later and was assigned to the Württemberg Mountain Battalion. However the war ended soon thereafter and his unit was sent to Silesia in order to help maintain order during the efforts of Polish-Silesian insurrectionists to have the area transferred to the newly founded Polish Republic.

Reinhardt remained in Silesia until August 1919, when his unit returned to the barracks in Stuttgart and was incorporated into the provisional Reichswehr. He served in the Army until the end of October 1920, when he was discharged due to the forced reduction of armed forces with the temporary rank of Leutnant (Second lieutenant). Reinhard subsequently entered the Württemberg Schutzpolizei and upon promotion to the police rank of Leutnant (Second lieutenant) in April 1921, he served as Platoon leader and an instructor with Police Departments in Heuberg and Böblingen, Württemberg.

He was promoted to Oberleutnant (First lieutenant) in October 1924 and appointed Instructor within Officer course at Solitude Palace near Stuttgart. Reinhard was transferred to the Police preparatory school in Stuttgart one year later and held another training assignment until the beginning of the 1930s. He then completed advanced course at that school and assumed command of Hundertschaft, a 100 men police unit roughly in the size of company, in Esslingen at the suburbs of Stuttgart. He was promoted to Hauptmann (Captain) in November 1932.

Following the creation of Wehrmacht, Reinhardt was transferred to the Army and assigned to the 55th Infantry Regiment in Würzburg, Bavaria. He served on the regimental staff under future general, Colonel Bruno Bieler until April 1936, when he assumed command of 4th Machine Gun Company in his regiment. While in this capacity, Reinhardt was promoted to Major in October that year and assumed command of regimental replacement battalion in December 1938.

Shortly before the outbreak of World War II, Reinhardt's battalion was used to form the 2nd Battalion within newly established 480th Infantry Regiment and ordered to the border triangle of common borders of Germany, Switzerland and France. He thus could not participate in the Invasion of Poland in September 1939 and his unit was held in the reserve. Reinhardt was promoted to Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel) in March 1940.