Career
This decoration, especially the higher grade with Oak Leaves, was awarded to recognise battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Hans von Tettau was captured at the end of the war and was held as a prisoner until 1947. After his release, he became a textile salesman and wrote a book with General Kurt Versock called The History of the 24th Infantry Division.
Although much decorated, Tettau"s reputation is debatable.
Some German historians argue that he had little real military experience up to his countermeasures at the Battle of Arnhem in 1944, the Allied Operation Market Garden. Fellow generals spoke of Tettau -whose regular work in the army was more that of an inspector than of a commanding officer - in a negative way when he organised his defences in the Netherlands under the name of Westgruppe"," which was no formal army division at all.
This was seen as a political move by Tettau to gain cr in Berlin. Bibliography.