page_title: Rudolf Sieckenius
section_title: World War II
hierarchical_section_title: Rudolf Sieckenius / World War II
caption_attribution_description: Italiano: Il generale Hans Hube, a destra, insieme al colonnello Rudolf Sieckenius (al centro) e al maggiore Hyazinth von Strachwitz (a sinistra); fronte orientale estate 1941
context_page_description: Rudolf Sieckenius was a German Generalmajor during World War II who commanded the 16 Panzer Division during Operation Avalanche in September 1943. Despite his widely acknowledged success, which almost resulted in the Allies being pushed back into the sea, Sieckenius was made a scapegoat and sidelined until his death during the Battle of Berlin, when he commanded a security division.
context_section_description: At the outset of the war Sieckenius served in the 2nd Light Division as commander of a Panzer battalion. Following the campaign in October 1939, the 2nd Light Division became the 7th Panzer Division. The new division was under the command of General Erwin Rommel. Sieckenius remained in command of a Panzer battalion, and took part in the Battle of France. The battalion remained in France until February 1941, when it was placed in reserve and returned to Germany. Here Sieckenius remained, refitting his battalion until he was transferred to the newly formed 16th Panzer Division in April, with which he took part in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, during which Sieckenius was awarded the Knight’s Cross.
  Sieckenius was in command of 16th Panzer Division in Italy from May to November 1943, defending capably against the Allied landings at Salerno, and managing the subsequent withdrawal to the Viktor Line. (On the Volturno River north of Naples.) At the beginning of October 1943 16th Panzer was already moving to the Adriatic coast sector as a result of Allied pressure when an amphibious landing was made at Termoli. Sieckenius' performance in that battle was the reason for his sacking as commander of 16th Panzer, as it was considered he had not been sufficiently aggressive in repelling the landing, and an opportunity to hand a defeat to the Allies had been lost, along with an important defensive position.
  Generalmajor Sieckenius was eventually killed in action near Märkisch Buchholz during the Battle of Halbe.
caption: Strachwitz, Sieckenius, and Hube
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