Gerhard Matzky

Gerhard Matzky
Born	19 March 1894 Küstrin, (today Poland)
Died	9 June 1983 (aged 89) Bad Godesberg
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany (to 1945)  West Germany
Service/branch	Heer Bundeswehr
Years of service	1912–45 1956–60
Rank	General der Infanterie (Wehrmacht) Generalleutnant (Bundeswehr)
Commands held	21. Infanterie-Division XXVIII. Armeekrops XXVI. Armeekorps
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Siege of Leningrad East Prussian Offensive Zemland Offensive
Awards	Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Other work	Bundeswehr Chairman of the Association of German soldiers

Gerhard Matzky (19 March 1894 – 9 June 1983) was a highly decorated General der Infanterie in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several corps. 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. Gerhard Matzky was captured by British troops in 1945 and was released in 1948. In 1956 he joined the Bundeswehr and served until 1960.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross of 1914
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class (1915)
• Wound Badge
  • in Black
  • in Silver
• Hanseatic Cross of Hamburg
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Iron Cross of 1939
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• War Merit Cross with Swords
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 April 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of 21. Infanterie-Division^[1]
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (11 April 1944)
• Grand Merit Cross with Star of the Federal Republic of Germany (Großes Verdienstkreuz mit Stern) (April 1967); previously Cross of Merit (1960)

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
11 April 1944	Südlich Pleskau griffen die Sowjets auch gestern nicht wieder an. Seit dem 31. März 1944 haben hier deutsche Truppen unter dem Oberbefehl des Generals der Artillerie Loch und unter Führung von Generalleutnant Matzky die Durchbruchsversuche weit überlegener feindlicher Infanterie- und Panzerverbände vereitelt und dem Feind hohe Menschen- und Materialverluste zugefügt.[2]	The Soviets again did not attack south of Pskov yesterday. Since 31 March 1944, German troops under the overall command of General of Artillery Loch and led by Lieutenant General Matzky have prevented the breakthrough attempts of far superior enemy infantry and tank units and inflicted high human and material losses on the enemy.

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 249.
2. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 78.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 3, 1 January 1944 to 9 May 1945] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Gerhard Matzky @ Axis Biographical Research at the Wayback Machine (archived November 17, 2010)