Walter Scheller

Walter Scheller
Born	27 January 1892 Hannover, Province of Hanover, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died	Brest, Belarussian SSR, Soviet Union now Brest, Brest Region, Belarus
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1914–44
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	11 Panzer-Division 9. Panzer-Division 334. Infanterie-Division 337. Infanterie-Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Invasion of Yugoslavia Operation Barbarossa Siege of Leningrad Battle of Moscow Battles of Rzhev Battle of Kursk Italian Campaign Operation Bagration Lublin–Brest Offensive †
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Walter Scheller (27 January 1892 – 21 July 1944) 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 Scheller was killed at Brest-Litovisk on 21 July 1944, during the Lublin–Brest Offensive.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Panzer Badge
• Eastern Front Medal
• German Cross in Gold (4 February 1943)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 3 April 1943 as Generalmajor and commander of 9. Panzer-Division
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on (24 July 1944)

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
24 July 1944	Zwischen Brest-Litowsk und Grodno sowie nördlich Kauen scheiterten Durchbruchsversuche des Feindes am zähen Widerstand unserer tapferen Divisionen. In einigen Abschnitten warfen sie die eingedrungenen Bolschewisten im Gegenangriff zurück. In diesen Kämpfen fanden der Kommandeur einer Kampfgruppe, Generalleutnant Scheller, und der Chef des Stabes einer Armee, Generalmajor v. Treskow, in vorderster Linie den Heldentod.	Between Brest-Litovsk and Grodno and north of Kaunas, enemy break-through attempts failed because of the stubborn resistance of our brave divisions. In some sectors they threw back the invading Bolsheviks in the counterattack. In these battles, the commander of a combat unit, Lieutenant General Scheller, and the Chief of Staff of an Army, Major-General v. Tresckow, found a heroes death at the front lines.

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• World War 2 Awards.com

Military offices
Preceded by General der Panzertruppen Hans-Karl Freiherr von Esebeck	Commander of 11. Panzer Division 20 October 1941 – 16 May 1942	Succeeded by General der Panzertruppen Hermann Balck
Preceded by Generalmajor Heinrich-Hermann von Hülsen	Commander of 9. Panzer Division 4 August 1942 – 21 July 1943	Succeeded by Generalleutnant Erwin Jollasse
Preceded by General der Artillerie Heinz Ziegler	Commander of 334. Infanterie-Division 20 October 1943 – 27 November 1943	Succeeded by Generalleutnant Hellmuth Böhlke
Preceded by Generalleutnant Otto Schünemann	Commander of 337. Infanterie-Division 27 December 1943 – 24 July 1944	Succeeded by None