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Erich Petersen

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

Military offices
Preceded by
Generalmajor Alfred Sturm
Commander of 7. Flieger-Division
1 June 1941 – 1 August 1942
Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Richard Heidrich
Preceded by
General der Flakartillerie Gerhard Hoffmann
Commander of IV Luftwaffe Corps / LXXXX Corps
1 August 1943 – 7 May 1945 (end of war)
Succeeded by
None