[1][2] Alfred-Hermann Reinhardt was born on 11 November 1897 in the village of Affalterbach near Backnang, Württemberg as the son of a teacher Ferdinand Reinhard and his wife Amalie.

[1][2] During the next three years, Reinhardt took part in the combats on Somme, Arras or Flanders, being wounded in action and received both classes of Prussian Iron Cross and Württemberg Bravery Medal in Silver for his service.

He then completed advanced course at that school and assumed command of Hundertschaft, a 100 men police unit roughly in the size of company, in Esslingen at the suburbs of Stuttgart.

[1][2] In November 1940, Reinhardt was transferred to the Troop Training Grounds in Münsingen, Württemberg where he joined the newly established 421st Infantry Regiment as commander of the 1st Battalion.

[2] The division arrived to the Eastern Front in July 1941 during the ongoing Operation Barbarossa, the German Invasion of Soviet Union.

Due to his actions, the Germans were able to prevent a large portion of Soviet soldiers escaping the Kiev pocket and Reinhardt presumably had a key part in this major tactical success with far-reaching operational significance.

He distinguished himself again by the end of July 1943, when during the battles for the Kuban bridgehead, the Soviets broke through the left wing of the 73rd Infantry Division between the villages of Dolgaja-Berg and Neberdshajewskaja.

[2] Reinhardt returned to the Eastern Front in early November 1943 and joined the staff of 73rd Infantry Division located at Melitopol in southeastern Ukraine.

Reinhardt led his division during the heavy combats with the Red Army and even he was praised for his performance by generals Erwin Jaenecke and Karl Allmendinger, it soon became obvious that the situation was totally untenable and the German forces would be overrun.

When the Soviets launched the series of offensives the 98th Division was destroyed during the initial attacks and the remnants were transported from Sevastopol by sea to Romania and then by train to Croatia, including Reinhardt himself.

Shortly after his arrival, Reinhardt was promoted to Generalleutnant by Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring based on the recommendations from his previous superior generals.

He was succeeded in command of the division by Generalmajor Otto Schiel on 11 April 1945, shortly after Allies launched their Spring offensive, and transferred to the Führer Reserve.

He was also a member of the Schnez-Truppe, a clandestine shadow army intended to fight against the Soviet Union in the event of an invasion, or German communists during a civil war.