Early Life and Career
Born in Berlin, German Empire, Henrici joined the Imperial German Army in 1907. He served in World War I, and after the war, he was retained in the Reichswehr, the limited German armed forces allowed under the Treaty of Versailles. He continued his military career as the Reichswehr transitioned into the Wehrmacht under Nazi Germany.World War II
At the outbreak of World War II, Henrici held various command and staff positions. His significant commands included:- 16th Motorized Infantry Division: Henrici took command of the 16th Motorized Infantry Division in October 1940. He led this division during the initial stages of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, in June 1941, participating in the advance into Ukraine.
- XXXX Panzer Corps: In November 1942, Henrici was appointed acting commander of the XXXX Panzer Corps (later renamed XXXX. Armeekorps). He was confirmed as the permanent commander in February 1943. Under his command, the corps saw extensive action on the Eastern Front. It was involved in the defense of the Don River salient and the subsequent battles around Kharkov.
- Battle of Kursk: Henrici's XXXX Panzer Corps played a role in Operation Citadel (the Battle of Kursk) in July 1943, fighting as part of Army Group South. After the failure of Kursk, his corps continued to engage in heavy defensive and delaying actions against the advancing Soviet forces throughout 1943 and 1944.
He was promoted to General der Panzertruppe in December 1942.
Awards and Decorations
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (13 November 1941)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (9 May 1945)