Walter Gericke

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Walter Gericke
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-2005-0808-506, Walter Gericke.jpg
Walter Gericke
Born (1907-12-23)23 December 1907
Bilderlahe, district of Gandersheim
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Alsfeld
Allegiance Weimar Republic Weimar Republic (to 1933)
 Nazi Germany (to 1945)
 West Germany
Service/branch Ordnungspolizei (to 1935)
Luftwaffe (Wehrmacht)
German Army (Bundeswehr)
Years of service 1929–45, 1956–65
Rank Oberst (Wehrmacht)
Generalmajor (Bundeswehr)
Commands held 4./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1
II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiments 6
Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 11
21. Fallschirmjäger-Division
1. Luftlandedivision
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Walter Gericke (23 December 1907 – 19 October 1991), was a German Fallschirmjäger during World War II and Generalmajor of the West German Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Gericke participated in the Battle of the Netherlands and the Battle of Crete as a Battalion commander of the Fallschirmjäger. He later commanded the Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 11 and fought in the defensive battles at Anzio. He joined the newly formed Bundeswehr after the rearmament of West Germany and as a Generalmajor led the 1. Luftlande-Division from 1962 to 1965.

Awards

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
10 June 1944 In den schweren Abwehrkämpfen der letzten Tage haben sich eine Kampfgruppe der deutschen 4. Fallschirmjägerdivision unter Führung des Majors Gericke, wirksam unterstützt durch Sturmpanzer der Sturmpanzer-Abteilung 216 sowie Teile des italienisch-republikanisch-faschistischen Fallschirmjägerregiments Folgore und italienische Flakkanoniere in deutschen Flakbatterien, besonders ausgezeichnet.[5] A combat group of the German 4th Airborne Division, led by Major Gericke, effectively supported by assault tanks of the assault tank battalion 216 and parts of the Italian fascist republican Folgore Parachute Regiment and Italian flak gunners in German flak batteries, have particularly distinguished themselves during the heavy defensive battles in recent days.

References

Citations

  1. 1.0 1.1 Thomas & Wegmann 1986, p. 75.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Thomas 1997, p. 195.
  3. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 135.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Scherzer 2007, p. 332.
  5. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 123.

Bibliography

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External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Commander of the 11. Fallschirmjäger-Division (Wehrmacht)
March 1945 – April 1945
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Commander of the 21. Fallschirmjäger-Division (Wehrmacht)
5 April 1945 – 8 May 1945
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Generalmajor Hans Kroh
Commander of the 1. Luftlande-Division (Bundeswehr)
1 October 1962 – 31 March 1965
Succeeded by
Generalmajor Hubert Sonneck