Erich Petersen

Erich Karl Alexander Petersen
Born25 August 1889 (1889-08-25)
Heidelberg, Grand Duchy of Baden, German Empire
Died4 July 1963(1963-07-04) (aged 73)
Allmannshausen, Starnberger See, Bavaria, West Germany
Allegiance German Empire (to 1918)
Weimar Republic (to 1933)
Nazi Germany
BranchPrussian Army
German Imperial Army
Reichswehr
German Army (Wehrmacht)
Luftwaffe
Years of service1909–45
RankGeneral der Flieger
Commands7th Air Division
IV. Luftwaffe-Field-Corps
LXXXX Army-Corps
Battles / warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsGerman Cross in Gold

Erich Karl Alexander Petersen (25 August 1889 – 4 July 1963) was a German officer and general during the Second World War.

Life

Petersen was a military cadet and later an infantry officer.[1] He served in WWI and then with the Reichswehr. At the beginning of WWII, he was a colonel and commander of the Grenz-Infanterie-Regiment 125 at the Westwall. He participated in the Battle of France and the Balkans campaign (World War II). On 11 October 1941 with effect from 1 October 1941, he was transferred to the Luftwaffe.[2]

Petersen served as commander of the 7th Air Division, until being tapped for promotion to commanding general of the IV Luftwaffe Field Corps. He also served as commanding general of the LXXXX Army Corps. Following the war, he was tried and acquitted of war crimes in France. He was released on 18 January 1950.

Awards and decorations (excerpt)

References