Description
Hube took part in the invasion of Poland and the Battle of France as a regimental commander, and was appointed commander of 16th Infantry Division in June 1940. As commander of the 16th Panzer Division, he took part in Operation Barbarossa as part of Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt’s Army Group South. For this action during the campaign, Hube received the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. On 16 January 1942, he was awarded the Oak leaves to the Knight’s Cross for his actions in the Battle of Kiev. Hube then led the division during Fall Blau and the Battle of Stalingrad. On 16 September 1942, Hube was given command of XIV Panzer Corps, the parent formation of the 16th Panzer Division.
Hube commanded the XIV Corps during the Soviet counter-offensive, Operation Uranus. He was promoted to General der Panzertruppe and received the Swords to the Knight’s Cross with Oak leaves from on 21 December 1942. During his time he argued strongly (but to no avail), to allow the 6th Army to attempt a breakout. Instead, he was promised a new relief attack beginning in the middle of February.
After the destruction of the 6th Army, Hube was sent to the Mediterranean front. He created Gruppe Hube in Sicily, a four-division force whose task was to defend the island. With the advent of Operation Husky on 10 July, Hube commanded the overall German defense. On 17 July 1943, Hube was given command of all Army and Flak troops on the island. Hube organized the evacuation to the Italian peninsula. He had prepared a strong defensive line, the ‘Etna Line’ around Messina, that would enable the Germans to make a progressive retreat while evacuating large parts of his army to the mainland. George S. Patton began his assault on the line at Troina, but it was a linchpin of the defense and stubbornly held. Despite three ‘end run’ amphibious landings the Germans managed to keep the bulk of their forces beyond reach of capture, and maintain their evacuation plans. Withdrawing a large number of troops from the threat of capture on Sicily represented a major success for. Hube later took part in the battles defending positions at Salerno during the Allied Operation Avalanche.
Afterwards Hube was moved back to Germany and on October 23, 1943, he was designated commander of the 200,000 man 1st Panzer Army, then serving with Army Group South under Field Marshal Erich von Manstein. In February 1944, he was officially confirmed as commander of the 1st Panzer Army. Shortly after, III Panzer Corps, one of his units, was required to assist German forces breaking out of the Korsun-Cherkassy pocket. Soon after this, his force was encircled in a pocket near Kamenets-Podolsky. He led the breakout which lasted from March 27, 1944 until 15 April 1944.
On 20 April 1944, he returned to Germany, where he was awarded him the Diamonds to the Knight’s Cross, one of just 27 recipients, and promoted him to Generaloberst for his actions in Sicily, Salerno, and in the Kamenets-Podolsky pocket. He was killed when the aircraft that was transporting him crashed after takeoff in Salzburg on April 21, 1944.
Made of paper, this Award Document is in EXCELLENT condition! Double-sided, he signed in ink as Commander of the 16th Panzer Division on Nov. 22, 1941. Contains a list of ten men to be awarded the War Merit Cross, 2nd Class with Swords, presumably for their heroism during the initial attacks in Barbarossa. Some marks and wear due to the age, but nothing that detracts. 100% original, it would look EXCELLENT framed! A PERFECT addition to any collection or display!
