Background
Hans-Karl von Esebeck was born on July 10, 1892 in Germany.
Hans-Karl von Esebeck was born on July 10, 1892 in Germany.
Hans-Karl von Esebec was educated locally.
General major Baron von Esebeck assumed command of the 15 Pz Div near Tobruk on 13 Apr 1941 after the death of Generalmajor Heinrich von Prittzwitz und Gaffron. After achieving total tactical surprise in an attack starting on 30 May, Esebeck lost about half of his effective strength before a severe sandstorm caused Rommel to call off his renewed effort to take Tobruk.
Without seeing any significant further action, Esenbeck left the division on 24 July 1941 and took command of the 11 Pz Div in the Ukraine on 24 Aug. Moving to the central front in late October, the bespectacled baron took over the 2 Pz Div on 17 Feb 1942. On 1 Dec 1942 he was promoted to Generalleutnant. While retaining command of the 11 Pz Div until 31 May 1943, he temporarily replaced Hans Zorn as CG, 46 Pz Corps, 22 Nov 1942 to 20 June 1943. Esebeck had no further command assignment for almost a year. He then was in France as acting head of Ihe 68 Pz Corps, 1 Dec 1943 to 9 Feb 1944, with headquarters just south of Paris at Rambouillet. He was succeeded by Friedrich Kirchner, meanwhile having been promoted on 1 Feb 1944 to General of Panzer Troops. Implicated in the attempt on Hitler’s life, Esebeck was senl to a concentration camp shortly after 20 July 1944 but lived for 10 years after the war.