Otto Korfes

Otto Korfes (23 November 1889 – 24 August 1964) was a German military officer and historian. He participated in the Battle of Stalingrad as a divisional commander. Later he joined the National Committee for a Free Germany, and held a number of military and political roles in the German Democratic Republic.

Biography Korfes was born on 23 November 1889 in Wenzen, the son of a pastor. He attended secondary school in Blankenburg.

On 17 March 1909 Korfes enlisted in the Imperial German Army as an Fahnenjunker (officer cadet), joining the 3rd Magdeburg Infantry Regiment No. 66 of the 7th Division. He was promoted to Fähnrich on 18 October 1909, and to lieutenant on 22 August 1910. With the outbreak of the First World War, Korfes was assigned to command a platoon on the Western Front. He took part in the Battle of Liège, one of the first battles of the war. On 25 February 1915 he was promoted to Oberleutnant, receiving command of a battalion. His last promotion before the conclusion of the war occurred on 18 December 1917, to the rank of captain. After the end of the war, Korfes was retained in the Reichswehr of the Weimar Republic, reaching the rank of major on 30 September 1920.

Korfes then studied at the Friedrich Wilhelm University of Berlin. In 1923, he received as a doctorate in political science under the tutelage of Max Sering and Werner Sombart. From April 1920 to June 1937 he was employed at the Reichsarchiv in Potsdam, performing military research. In 1929, he married Gudrun (1907–1979), who descended from a minor noble family. In 1933, his first daughter, was born.

Korfes returned to active service from the reserves in October 1937. On 1 February 1938 he was promoted to Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel). On 5 February 1940 Korfes took command of the 518 Regiment of the 295th Infantry Division. He was promoted to Oberst (colonel) on 1 January 1941. Korfes' regiment and division were part of the spearhead of Operation Barbarossa. On 2 November 1942 Korfes relinquished command and was placed in the Führerreserve. On 16 November 1942 Korfes was reactivated and placed in command of the 295th Infantry Division, succeeding Rolf Wuthmann. By this time, the 295th was deeply involved in the Battle of Stalingrad. The division was destroyed in the battle, and Korfes was taken prisoner by the Red Army on 31 January 1943.

Following his capture, Korfes was detained at the Voikovo prison camp. He joined the anti-Nazi National Committee for a Free Germany (NKFD) and took part in radio broadcasts calling for German soldiers to surrender. He was succeeded as chairman by Arno von Lenski. On 24 August 1964 Korfes died of a heart attack; he was buried at the Neuer Friedhof in Potsdam.

Awards Medal for Fighters Against Fascism (1964) Patriotic Order of Merit, in silver (1959) (1957) Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (1943) German Cross, in gold (1942) Iron Cross, 1st and 2nd Class (1916)