Walter Hörnlein

Walter "Papa" Hörnlein
Walter Hörnlein (center), Peter Frantz (3rd from right)
Nickname(s)	"Papa"
Born	2 January 1893 Blüthen
Died	14 September 1961 (aged 68) Cologne
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1912–45
Rank	General der Infanterie
Commands held	Infanterie-Regiment Großdeutschland Infanterie-Division Großdeutschland Panzer-Grenadier-Division Großdeutschland LXXXII. Armeekorps XXVII. Armeekorps
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Kiev (1941) Battle of Voronezh (1942) Operation Mars Third Battle of Kharkov Battle of Kursk Belgorod-Khar'kov Offensive Operation Lower Dnieper Offensive Siegfried Line Campaign Operation Nordwind
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Walter "Papa" Hörnlein (2 January 1893 – 14 September 1961) was a General der Infanterie in the Wehrmacht during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. This award was given to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or outstanding military leadership.

He was the commander (1 April 1942 - 27 January 1944) of the Großdeutschland Division.

Walter Hörnlein surrendered to American troops on 4 May 1945 and was held until 1947.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (4 October 1914)^[1]
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (17 August 1934)
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (September 1939)^[1]
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 1st Class (September 1939)^[1]
• Infantry Assault Badge
• Eastern Front Medal (22 September 1942)
• German Cross in Gold (14 February 1943)^[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 30 July 1941 as Oberst and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 80^[2][3]
  • 213th Oak Leaves on 15 March 1943 as Generalleutnant and commander of Infanterie-Division (motorized) "Großdeutschland"^[2][4]

References

Citations

1. Thomas 1997, p. 291.
2. Scherzer 2007, p. 397.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 230.
4. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 67.

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.
• Schaulen, Fritjof (2003). Eichenlaubträger 1940 – 1945 Zeitgeschichte in Farbe I Abraham – Huppertz [Oak Leaves Bearers 1940 – 1945 Contemporary History in Color I Abraham – Huppertz] (in German). Selent, Germany: Pour le Mérite. ISBN 978-3-932381-20-1.
• 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.
• Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• World War 2 Awards.com
• Grossdeutschland.net