Hans Christern

Hans Christern
Born	24 January 1900 Lauenburg, Province of Schleswig-Holstein, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died	Georgenhof, Bavaria, West Germany
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1920) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1917–20 1936–45
Rank	Oberst
Commands held	II./Panzer-Regiment 31 Panzer-Regiment 35 7. Panzer Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Battle of France Operation Bagration Battle of Radzymin (1944) Courland Pocket East Pomeranian Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Hans Christern (24 January 1900 – 17 June 1966) was a highly decorated Oberst in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He helped write the Tigerfibel training booklet for Tiger tank crewmen. Christern took over command of the 7th Panzer Division in March 1945 following a severe injury to the division's commander, Generalmajor Dr. Karl Mauss. Christern led the remnants of the division to Schwerin north and west of Berlin, where they surrendered to British troops in May 1945. He was held by the British until January 1946.

Following the war he worked as a farmer. He was involved in the CDU, and ran for office in the West German federal election of 1949, but failed to win his seat.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Silver
• Panzer Badge
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 31 January 1941 as Major and commander of the II./Panzer-Regiment 31

External links

• Ritterkreuztrager 1939-1945
• World War 2 Awards.com

Military offices
Preceded by Generalmajor Dr. Karl Mauss	Commander of 7. Panzer-Division 26 March 1945 – 8 May 1945	Succeeded by None