Walter Hörnlein

German general From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Walter Hermann Hoernlein (2 January 1893 – 14 September 1961) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II, who commanded the Großdeutschland Division. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

Born(1893-01-02)2 January 1893
Blüthen near Karstädt, Kreis Westprignitz, Province of Brandenburg, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died14 September 1961(1961-09-14) (aged 68)
Köln-Merheim, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany
Allegiance German Empire
Weimar Republic
Nazi Germany
Branch German Army
Quick facts Born, Died ...
Walter Hörnlein
Lieutenant General Hoernlein (center of image, 1943) on the Eastern Front in front of assault gun crews
Born(1893-01-02)2 January 1893
Blüthen near Karstädt, Kreis Westprignitz, Province of Brandenburg, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died14 September 1961(1961-09-14) (aged 68)
Köln-Merheim, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany
Allegiance German Empire
Weimar Republic
Nazi Germany
Branch German Army
Service years1912–45
RankGeneral of the Infantry
CommandsGroßdeutschland Division
ConflictsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Relations∞ 1927 Erika Barkow, 3 children
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Life

From Easter 1899, Walter attended elementary school (Volksschule) in Premslin, from Easter 1903 to Easter 1908, he was a cadet at the Cadet Academy Plön and then at the Royal Prussian Main Cadet Institute in Groß-Lichterfelde near Berlin until January 1912. On 27 January 1912, he was transferred from the Cadet Institute to the 4. Westpreußisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 140 as an Officer Cadet.

1934 to 1945

  • 13 August 1934 Newly sworn-in
  • 15 October 1935 Commander of the I. Battalion/Infanterie-Regiment 69 in Hamburg
    • 12 November to 29 November 1935 commanded to the staff officer course of the X Army Corps in Hamburg
    • On 12 October 1937, the regiment was motorized and subsequently designated Infantry Regiment (motorized) 69. From 12 October 1937, the regiment was also subordinated to the 20th Infantry Division (motorized).
  • 1 November 1939 Appointed commander of the Infanterie-Regiment 80/34. Infanterie-Division
  • 29 July 1941 Führerreserve (OKH)/Army High Command Leader Reserve
    • simultaneously assigned to the Führerreserve of Army Group Center
  • 1 August 1941 Appointed commander of the Infantry Regiment “Großdeutschland” (formed from parts of the Guard Regiment and the Training Infantry Regiment or Infantry Training Regiment from Döberitz)
  • 27 March 1942 Commanded to the Army High Command (OKH) for the purpose of directing the formation of the Infantry Division "Großdeutschland"
  • 10 April 1942 Delegated with the leadership of the Infantry Division "Großdeutschland"
  • 1 May 1942 Appointed commander of the Infantry Division "Großdeutschland"
    • 25 May to 1 July 1943 granted leave (suffering from furunculosis)
    • From June 1943 (completed 30 June), the division was reorganized into the Panzer Grenadier Division "Großdeutschland" (its structure corresponded to that of a Panzer Division)
  • 20 January 1944 Führerreserve (OKH)/Army High Command Leader Reserve (duty regulated by the Military District X)
    • 10 February 1944 granted three months leave
  • 1 August 1944 Delegated with the leadership of the LXIV. Reservekorps
  • 2 September 1944 Führerreserve (OKH)/Army High Command Leader Reserve (duty regulated by the Commander-in-Chief West)
  • 7 September 1944 Delegated with the leadership of the LXXXII. Armeekorps
  • 1 November 1944 Appointed commanding general of the LXXXII. Armeekorps
    • disqualified for frontline service as commanding general of a corps after only four weeks due to poor health including significant weight loss
  • 30 November with effect from 1 December 1944 Führerreserve (OKH)/Army High Command Leader Reserve (duty regulated by the Military District X)
  • 5 December 1944 Commanded to Military District X for the purpose of training as deputy commanding general
  • 1 February 1945 Appointed deputy commanding general of the Deputy General Command II Army Corps in Stettin and commander of Military District II
    • 10 February 1945 simultaneously commandant of the Stettin defense area
  • 13 March 1945 Released from the previous task as commandant of the Stettin defense area for further use (classified as top secret or geheime Kommandosache in his files)
  • 21 March 1945 Again (exclusively) deputy commanding general of the Deputy General Command II Army Corps in Stettin and commander of Military District II
  • 11 April 1945 Appointed commanding general of the XXVII. Armeekorps (other sources state he took over on 14, 15 or even 28 April 1945)
    • The corps was evacuated westward via Danzig and assigned to the 3rd Panzer Army as a reserve on the Eastern Front. At the end of April 1945, the corps was pushed back via Templin to Fürstenberg. The last units of the corps, retreating westward via Parchim towards the Elbe River, surrendered to American troops on 4 May 1945 in the area north of Ludwigslust. Hoernlein was repatriated in 1947.

Promotions

  • 27 January 1912 Fähnrich (Officer Cadet)
  • 16 June 1913 Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
  • 27 September 1919 Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant) with Patent from 18 August 1919
    • 1 July 1922 received new Rank Seniority (RDA) from 20 June 1918 (51)
  • 31 January 1927 Hauptmann (Captain) with effect from 1 February 1927 (35)
  • 1 October 1934 Major (18)
  • 20 April 1937 Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) with effect and RDA from 1 April 1937 (25)
  • 16 March 1940 Oberst (Colonel) with effect and RDA from 1 April 1940 (22)
  • 8 April 1942 Generalmajor (Major General) with effect and RDA from 1 April 1942 (79)
  • 21 January 1943 Generalleutnant (Lieutenant General) with effect and RDA from 1 January 1943 (60)
  • 15 November 1944 General der Infanterie with effect and RDA from 9 November 1944 (5)

Awards and decorations

References

Bibliography

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