Allegiance Nazi Germany Rank Oberstleutnant Name Eberhard Zahn Service/branch German Army | Years of service 1939–45 Commands held Panzer-Regiment 9 Died February 7, 2010, Germany | |
Battles/wars World War II
Battle of France
North African Campaign
Operation Battleaxe
Operation Crusader
Battle of Gazala
First Battle of El Alamein
Second Battle of El Alamein
Tunisia Campaign
Eastern Front
Riga Offensive (1944)
Prague Offensive Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Battles and wars Battle of France, North African Campaign | ||
Dr. rer. oec. Eberhard Detloff Zahn (2 January 1910 – 7 February 2010) was a highly decorated Oberstleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Zahn served under Erwin Rommel in North Africa and was on one of the few planes leaving North Africa that was not shot down. He then fought on the Eastern Front. Eberhard Zahn was captured by Soviet troops in May 1945 and escaped a few weeks later. He traveled to the west until he encountered US forces and surrendered to them.
Zahn was a member of Corps Austria - a student duelling fraternity located in Frankfurt am Main - from the time of his admission in 1930 until his death in 2010.
Zahn was the Chief Executive Officer of the Ruhr-Stickstoff Aktiengesellschaft in Bochum from 1957 until his retirement.