Walter Neumann-Silkow

Walter Neumann-Silkow
Born	(1894-04-10)10 April 1894 Groß Silkow, Province of Pomerania, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire now Żelki, Pomerania Voivodeship, Poland
Died	Derna, Italian Cyrenica, Italian Libya now Cyrenica, Libya
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1920) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1912–41
Rank	Generalleutnant (Posthumously)
Commands held	8. Panzer-Division 15. Panzer-Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Invasion of Yugoslavia North African Campaign Operation Battleaxe Operation Crusader
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Walter Neumann-Silkow (10 April 1894 – 9 December 1941) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Walter Neumann-Silkow died of wounds on 9 December 1941 at a military hospital in Derna, Libya. He was posthumously promoted to Generalleutnant.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Wound Badge
  • in Black
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 August 1940 as Oberst and commander of 8. Schützen-Brigade
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on (22 June 1940)

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
Saturday, 22 June 1940	In den Kämpfen der letzten Tage haben sich durch unerschrockenen Einsatz in kühnen Einzeltaten besonders hervorgetan: der Oberst und Kommandeur einer Schützenbrigade Neumann-Silkow, der Oberleutnant und Chef einer Reiterschwadron Freiherr von Boeselager, der Leutnant Michael in einem Reiterregiment und der Leutnant Meder in einer Panzerjägerabteilung.	In the fighting in recent days, in fearless action in bold individual acts have particularly excelled: the colonel and commander of a rifle brigade Neumann-Silkow, the lieutenant and chief of a cavalry squadron Freiherr von Boeselager, the Lieutenant Michael in a cavalry regiment and the Lieutenant Meder in an anti-tank battalion.

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht

Military offices
Preceded by General der Panzertruppe Erich Brandenberger	Commander of 8. Panzer-Division 21 February 1941 – 26 May 1941	Succeeded by General der Panzertruppe Erich Brandenberger
Preceded by Generalmajor Hans-Karl Freiherr von Esebeck	Commander of 15. Panzer-Division 26 May 1941 – 6 December 1941	Succeeded by Oberst Erwin Menny