rel ▁from ▁mid - J uly ▁to ▁mid - August ▁and ▁on ▁ 1 ▁September ▁ 1 9 4 3 ▁was ▁given ▁a ▁posting ▁to ▁XX IV ▁Pan zer ▁Corps ▁as ▁commander ▁of ▁ 1 4 3 rd ▁Art illery ▁Command . ▁Under ▁General ▁der ▁Pan zer tr u ppe ▁( General ▁of ▁Pan zer ▁Tro ops ) ▁Walter ▁Ne hr ing , ▁he ▁served ▁throughout ▁the ▁def ensive ▁batt les ▁of ▁late ▁ 1 9 4 3 ▁and ▁early ▁ 1 9 4 4 . ▁ ▁In ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁C ras emann ▁went ▁to ▁Germany ▁for ▁a ▁period ▁of ▁leave ▁and ▁then , ▁instead ▁of ▁returning ▁to ▁Russia , ▁he ▁went ▁on ▁a ▁one - month ▁divis ional ▁command ers ' ▁course ▁at ▁the ▁War ▁Academy ▁at ▁Hir sch berg . ▁In ▁early ▁July ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁he ▁was ▁posted ▁to ▁Italy ▁as ▁the ▁acting ▁commander ▁of ▁ 2 6 th ▁Pan zer ▁Division . ▁His ▁term ▁in ▁command ▁was ▁short , ▁as ▁General major ▁Hans ▁Bo elsen ▁arrived ▁on ▁ 1 8 ▁July , ▁with ▁C ras emann ▁rever ting ▁to ▁deput y ▁commander . ▁However , ▁the ▁following ▁month ▁Bo elsen ▁took ▁over ▁the ▁ 1 8 th ▁Pan zer gren ad ier ▁Division ▁while ▁C ras emann ▁became ▁the ▁permanent ▁commander ▁of ▁ 2 6 th ▁Pan zer ▁Division . ▁Eng aged ▁in ▁the ▁fighting ▁on ▁the ▁Goth ic ▁Line ▁with ▁the ▁E ighth ▁Army , ▁the ▁ 2 6 th ▁Pan