Adolf Vogt


Adolf August Vogt was a highly decorated Hauptmann 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, and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II.

Life

Adolf was born the son of Protestant master baker Christian Andreas August Vogt and his wife Anna, geb. Weiss. After eight years of compulsory school in Sindolsheim from Easter 1922 to Easter 1930, he attended the vocational training school in Eubigheim for three years. But a trade was neither his goal nor his preference.
He liked the paramilitary structure of the Hitler Youth, where he took on responsibility early on and became a HJ-Scharführer. As such he led a Schar with 40 to 60 boys. A Schar consisted of four Kameradschaften or Comradeships, each with 10 to 15 members.
On 4 April 1934, he joined the Reichswehr and served with the 4th Company/I. Battalion/Infanterie-Regiment 15. After basic training, he knew, this is what he wanted to do. He applied to become a career NCO, was accepted and committed himself for 12 years. On 1 October 1934, personnel from Infantry Regiment 15 formed the new Infantry Regiment 36 in Gießen. Schütze Vogt was transferred to the 8th Company/II. Battalion/Infanterie-Regiment 36. In March 1936, the regiment was deployed to Worms for the purpose of liberating the Rhineland. Vogt had an appendectomy in 1936. On 6 October 1936, II. Battalion/Infanterie-Regiment 36 would become the II. Battalion of the new Infanterie-Regiment 105 in Trier.
On 1 January 1943, he was apointed Reserve Officer Candidate; in assessments from the end of 1942, he had already been classified as "suitable for a career as a war officer". In April 1943, he was, surprisingly, commissioned as an active troop officer, not as a war or reserve officer. He committed himself for 25 years, service time since 1934 was taken into account.

Knight's Cross

Vogt's 12th Company was involved in the German retreat across France in mid-1944. Shortly after he had received an order to retreat, a colonel from a Panzer regiment asked that he hold his positions for two more days until his tanks had been evacuated across the Seine. He held his positions as requested and with his men was also able to destroy two tanks in close combat. But on the second day of fighting, he was shot through the elbow and was paralyzed in the arm. That night, he and his men also retreated across the Seine and Vogt was transferred to hospital. For his successful stand during this engagement he would shortly thereafter be awarded the Knight's Cross in October 1944.

POW and post-war

During the division's final battles in April 1945, Voigt was primarily deployed in the Harz Mountains. After being quickly surrounded by American units there, he and his battle group reported to the division command post on the Brocken mountain. The commander informed the soldiers about the end of the war and that everyone could now make their own way.
Captain Vogt, slightly wounded, planned to make his way to the military hospital in Jena in seven night marches. He and his last men succeeded and reached a doctor he knew at the Bismarck School, who was able to accommodate the soldiers. When the Americans evacuated Thuringia and handed it over to the Russians, all soldiers fit for transport would be discharged.
The city of Jena had been occupied by the U.S. Army on 13 April 1945 without a fight after the USAAF bombed the city on 9 April, killing hundreds of civilians, and then shelled the city with artillery for hours on 11 April, killing more civilians. Voigt was subsequently taken prisoner by the Americans. The Americans released him from captivity on 16 June 1945, only two weeks before the city was transferred to the control of the Red Army.
In July 1945, Adolf Vogt arrived in his hometown, where he volunteered at a car repair shop. In 1950, he opened a car rental company with just one car, which soon became very successful. Two years later, he bought his first bus. He drove another 3,000,000 kilometers before his 70th birthday.

Promotions

  • 4 April 1934 Schütze
  • 1 May 1935 Gefreiter
  • 1 April 1936 Unteroffizier
  • 1 November 1940 Oberfeldwebel
  • * 1 January 1943 appointed Reserveoffizierbewerber
  • 1 March 1943 Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel
  • 7 April 1943 Leutnant with effect and Rank Seniority from 1 April 1943
  • 21 June 1944 Oberleutnant with effect and RDA from 1 June 1944
  • 1 January 1944 Hauptmann

Awards and decorations