Walter Hörnlein

Walter "Papa" Hörnlein
Walter Hörnlein (center)
Nickname	"Papa"
Born	(1893-01-02)2 January 1893
Died	14 September 1961(1961-09-14) (aged 68)
Place of birth	Blüthen
Place of death	Cologne
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1912–1945
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
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (17 August 1934)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Infantry Assault Badge
• Eastern Front Medal (22 September 1942)
• German Cross in Gold (14 February 1943)
• 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
  • 213th Oak Leaves on 15 March 1943 as Generalleutnant and commander of Infanterie-Division (mot.) "Großdeutschland"

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
• Schaulen, Fritjof (2003). Eichenlaubträger 1940 - 1945 Zeitgeschichte in Farbe I Abraham - Huppertz (in German). Selent, Germany: Pour le Mérite. ISBN 3-932381-20-3.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.

External links

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

Military offices
Preceded by Oberst Wilhelm Von Stockhausen	Commander of Infanterie-Regiment Großdeutschland 10 August 1941 - 1 April 1942	Succeeded by Oberst Köhler
Preceded by None	Commander of Infanterie-Division Großdeutschland 1 April 1942 - 3 April 1943	Succeeded by Generalleutnant Hermann Balck
Preceded by Generalleutnant Hermann Balck	Commander of Panzer-Grenadier-Division Großdeutschland 30 June 1943 - 31 January 1944	Succeeded by Generalleutnant Hasso von Manteuffel
Preceded by General der Artillerie Johann Sinnhuber	Commander of LXXXII. Armeekorps 1 September 1944 - 30 January 1945	Succeeded by General der Infanterie Walther Hahm
Preceded by General der Artillerie Maximilian Felzmann	Commander of XXVII. Armeekorps 14 April 1945 - 4 May 1945	Succeeded by None