Gerhard Elsner

Captain Gerhard Elsner commanded Sgt. Ludwig Rothe' panzar company from the beginning of the Second World War. A good officer, he made it a habit to check on the different panzars in his command on a regular basis and to ensure his men received a hearty meal before a major operation

Elsner was hopeful that a final push through Beauvais and Alonne would allow the Wehrmacht to swing around Paris and take it unlike the previous generation. This was despite his company being at less than half strength (thirteen effective panzars rather than the organizational thirty-two at the start of the war) since the enemy had also suffered losses. However, the French had either through skill or luck placed their own chars at the Schwerpunkt and so prevented the German breakthrough.

Elsner had served as a noncomm in the previous war and had won an Iron Cross, Second Class.