Bio of Oberstleutnant Walter Neitzel (1913-1944)

Walter Neitzel

Date of Birth: 09.05.1913 - Greifenberg, Pommern (German Empire)
Date of Death: 02.09.1944 - Kaikasi, near Vecpiebalga (Latvia)

Promotions:
00.00.1939 Leutnant
00.00.1940 Oberleutnant
00.00.1942 Hauptmann
00.00.1944 Major
00.00.1944 Oberstleutnant (posthumously)

Career:
00.05.1943 Führer I.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 409 / 122.Infanterie-Division

Awards and Decorations:
29.11.1940 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
29.07.1941 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.19__ Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
00.00.19__ Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz
00.00.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
30.07.1942 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
02.06.1943 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Hauptmann and Führer I.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 409 / 122.Infanterie-Division. At 02:00 on the 25.05.1943 the Soviets achieved a penetration in the right sector of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 409 (located near Ssemkina Goruschka) with two companies of their own. In response Hauptmann Neitzel (who commanded the right neighbouring Bataillon) launched a counterthrust against these forces, and by 07:30 he had managed to deal with this dangerous threat to his flank successfully. In this engagement the Soviets lost 199 counted dead and 33 prisoners, while Neitzel’s counterattack force suffered losses of only 4 wounded troops. Neitzel would be awarded the Ritterkreuz for this action.
07.08.1943 Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS
00.00.1944 Nahkampfspange in Bronze
05.09.1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #576 (posthumously), as Major and Kommandeur I.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 409 / 122.Infanterie-Division. Awarded for his actions during the fighting of the 122. Infanterie-Division south of Riga. On 11.08.1944 the Division was forced to pull its front back to the line Kivioru - 1 km north of Gut Misso. By 15:00 on this day Major Neitzel had managed to break through the Soviet forces blocking his path to the west and stood here with two Kompanien ready for further orders. For his successful breakout on this day he would be decorated with the Eichenlaub for his Ritterkreuz.

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Walter Neitzel earned both Iron Crosses as a Leutnant. He received the German Cross in Gold as captain and commander of the 3rd company of the 409th Infantry Regiment on July 30, 1942 for his service in the fighting in the Demjansk Pocket. In May 1943 he took over the first battalion of his regiment, which distinguished itself again in the heavy defensive fighting south of Staraya Russa, whereupon Neitzel was awarded the Knight's Cross on June 2, 1943. In 1944 he led his battalion to the Baltic States during the retreat. During the evacuation movements between Reval and Pernau, he was so badly wounded on August 26, 1944 that he succumbed to his injuries on September 2, 1944. The following day, as the 576th soldier in the Wehrmacht, he was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross and posthumously promoted to lieutenant colonel.

Source :
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj76KvS7_n-AhVh4jgGHVWPC6cQFnoECB4QAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ritterkreuztraeger.info%2Frkel%2Fn%2FEL576Neitzel.pdf&usg=AOvVaw27P_L41tGv40S1roJZr8MN
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/N/NeitzelW.htm
http://pantorijn.blogspot.com/2015/02/greif-division-postcards-knight-cross.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/12630/Neitzel-Walter.htm