Background
Behrend was born on 25 August 1898 in Perleberg in the Province of Brandenburg, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia.
Behrend was born on 25 August 1898 in Perleberg in the Province of Brandenburg, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia.
The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Aged seventeen, he joined the German Army on 1 June 1915 with the Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Füsilier-Regiment Near 90 Kaiser Wilhelm (Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Fusilier Regiment Nr 90 Emperor Wilhlem).
Where he was assigned to the 4th Company on 15 June 1915 then transferred to the 3rd Company on 20 July 1915 and again moved on 8 August 1915, this time to the 7th Company.
With this unit he was sent to the Eastern Front of World War I where he arrived on 9 August 1915. Behrend fell ill and from 1 October 1915 to 6 October 1915 was sent to the Vereinslazarett II (2nd hospital) of the Red Cross in Landsberg an der Warthe, present-day Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland.
Following his sick leave, Behrend was transferred to the 5th Company of the Reserve Infantry Regiment 90 on 7 October 1915, and from 13 October to 4 November 1915 to the 3rd Company of the same regiment. He was transferred to the 1st Infantry Division on 5 November 1915.
Here he was posted to 11th Company of Infantry Regiment 43 on 14 November 1915.
While serving with this unit he was promoted to Gefreiter (enlisted soldier) on 4 January 1916, to Fahnenjunker (cadet) on 29 February 1916 and to Unteroffizier (corporal) on 29 March 1916. He was promoted to Fähnrich (ensign) in 1917 for his bravery before the enemy and to Leutnant (second lieutenant) the same year. Wehrmachtbericht reference Bibliography.
Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class (9 June 1917) 1st Class (4 November 1918) Wound Badge (1914) in Black Military Merit Cross, 2nd Class (Mecklenburgisch-Schwerinsches-Verdienstkreuz) (2 January 1918) Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (21 January 1935) Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (12 May 1940) 1st Class (10 June 1940) Eastern Front Medal (29 July 1942) Infantry Assault Badge in Silver (20 April 1943) Wound Badge (1939) in Silver (29 July 1942) in Gold (2 February 1944) Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords Knight"s Cross on 15 July 1941 as Major and commander of the I./Infanterie-Regiment 489 421st Oak Leaves on 6 March 1944 as Oberst and commander of Grenadier-Regiment 154 (148th) Swords on 26 April 1945 as Generalmajor and commander of the 490. Infanterie-Division Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 18 April 1945.
