Nickname: No information
Date of birth: 24 September 1898 - Bieganin, District Pleschen, Posen (now Bieganin, Poland)
Date of death: 10 July 1968 - Rosenheim, Bavaria, West Germany
Allegiance: German Empire (to 1918), Weimar Republic (to 1933), Nazi Germany
Service/branch: Imperial German Army, Reichswehr, Schutzpolizei, Wehrmacht (Heer)
Years of service: 1916-1919, 1920-1935 (police), 1935-1945
Commands held: I. Battalion / Schutzen-Regiment 10, Kradschutzen-Bataillon 59, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10, Panzertruppenschule II, 561st Volksgrenadier-Division, 710th Infantry-Division
Battles/wars: World War I (Western Front), Freikorps actions in Lithuania and Courland, World War II (Invasion of Poland, Battle of France, Balkans Campaign, Operation Barbarossa, Battle of Uman, Battle of Kiev, Battle of Voronezh, Battles of Rzhev, Operation Bagration, Defense of East Prussia, Defense in Austria)
Spouse: Erna Flothe (married 24 September 1926)
Parents: Ferdinand Gorn (farmer) and Anna Gorn
Promotions:
14 November 1916: Grenadier
16 April 1919: Gefreiter
07 September 1919: Unteroffizier
01 June 1920: Unterwachtmeister (police)
29 April 1927: Polizei-Leutnant
26 March 1929: Polizei-Oberleutnant
01 October 1934: Polizei-Hauptmann
01 October 1935: Hauptmann (army)
20 February 1940: Major
01 February 1942: Oberstleutnant
01 March 1943: Oberst
21 July 1944: Generalmajor
Career:
14 November 1916 - 06 July 1917: Grenadier in the Grenadier-Regiment "Konig Wilhelm I." (2. Westpreussisches) Nr. 7
06 July 1917 - 19 August 1917: Transferred to the Ersatz-MG-Kompanie des V. Armeekorps
19 August 1917 - 18 December 1918: Transferred to the 1. schwere MG-Kompanie des Landsturm-Infanterie-Regiments Nr. 36
18 December 1918 - 20 September 1919: Transferred to the 2. Kompanie des Freiwilligen-Regiments 18
20 September 1919: Entlassung aus dem Heeresdienst
01 June 1920 - 29 April 1927: Unterwachtmeister in the Schutzpolizei Breslau, with detachments to police schools and courses
29 April 1927 - 01 November 1928: Platoon leader in various police units, Schutzpolizei Breslau
01 November 1928 - 05 December 1930: Adjutant of Police-Inspection East, Breslau
05 December 1930 - 02 March 1931: Detached for training as a district leader
02 March 1931 - 01 April 1931: Detached for training as traffic officer and motor vehicle driver, Police-Inspection for Technology and Traffic, Breslau
01 April 1931 - 08 May 1933: Traffic officer with the Command of the Schutzpolizei Breslau
08 May 1933 - 01 September 1933: Leader of the 5th State-Police-Unit Breslau
01 September 1933 - 01 October 1934: 2nd Officer with the Motor Vehicle Unit Breslau
01 October 1934 - 20 April 1935: Motor-transport officer with the Staff of the State-Police-Department, Iserlohn
20 April 1935 - 15 October 1935: Leader of the Motorcycle-Guards-Unit Breslau
15 October 1935 - 01 July 1939: Company chief in the 3rd Motorcycle-Rifle-Battalion (Kradschutzen-Bataillon 3)
01 July 1939 - 05 January 1940: Commandant of the headquarters staff, XIX. Motorized Army Corps
05 January 1940 - 17 March 1940: Transferred to the 82nd Rifle-Replacement-Battalion
17 March 1940 - 12 October 1940: Commander of the 10th Rifle-Replacement-Battalion
12 October 1940 - 26 January 1942: Commander of the I. Battalion, Schutzen-Regiment 10 (9th Panzer Division)
26 January 1942 - 05 October 1942: Commander of the Kradschutzen-Bataillon 59 (9th Panzer Division)
05 October 1942 - 01 March 1943: Commander of the Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10 (9th Panzer Division)
01 March 1943 - 08 September 1943: Detached to tactical course at Panzer-Troop-School I, Wunsdorf
01 November 1943 - 15 January 1944: Commander of training courses at Panzer-Troop-School II, Krampnitz
05 November 1943 - 08 November 1943: Detached to the Fuhrer Headquarters
15 January 1944 - 24 July 1944: Commander of Panzer-Troop-School II, Krampnitz
24 July 1944 - 27 July 1944: Commander of a Grenadier-Division (ad hoc)
27 July 1944 - 01 October 1944: Delegated with leadership of the 561st Volksgrenadier-Division
01 October 1944 - 01 March 1945: Commander of the 561st Volksgrenadier-Division (ill from 23 September 1944, temporarily replaced by Oberst Felix Becker)
01 March 1945 - 15 April 1945: In hospital
15 April 1945 - 08 May 1945: Commander of the 710th Infantry-Division
08 May 1945 - 16 June 1947: In U.S. captivity
16 June 1947: Released
Awards and decorations:
Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse (1914)
Ehrenkreuz fur Frontkampfer
Osterreichische Kriegs-Erinnerungs-Medaille mit Schwertern
Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV. bis II. Klasse
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 01.10.1938 mit Spange "Prager Burg"
Ungarische Kriegs-Erinnerungs-Medaille mit Schwertern
Bulgarische Kriegs-Erinnerungs-Medaille mit Schwertern
Spange zum Eisernen Kreuz II. Klasse (1939) on 16 October 1939
Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse (1939) on 08 April 1941
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes #267 on 20 April 1941 as Major and commander of I. Bataillon / Schutzen-Regiment 10, 9. Panzer-Division. On 10 April 1941, Major Gorn had the mission of advancing towards Debar via Gostivar with his small mixed Abteilung in order to establish contact with Italian troops. Following a swift, bold thrust against a much superior foe, Gorn and his troops overran a strong hostile resistance line in front of Debar and then crushed 7 enemy batteries. 9 enemy batteries, 12 anti-tank guns, and numerous additional war materiel were captured. This bold attack also liberated 800 Italian prisoners, who were armed and taken under command. Through this action, Gorn made a major contribution to the successful fighting in southern Serbia. For this, as well as for previously distinguishing himself on 08 April 1941 at the Stracin Pass, he was decorated with the Ritterkreuz. Combat Group "Gorn", detached from the 9th Panzer Division, marched from Tetovo, seized Gostivar, and advanced towards Debar and Kicevo.
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 08 February 1942 as Major and commander of I. Bataillon / Schutzen-Regiment 10, 9. Panzer-Division
Panzerkampfabzeichen in Bronze
Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/1942"
Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber (1939)
Nahkampfspange in Bronze
Bulgarischer Tapferkeitsorden IV. Klasse, I. Stufe
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #113 on 17 August 1942 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Kradschutzen-Bataillon 59, 9. Panzer-Division. It was awarded for his achievements during the fighting for Voronezh in July 1942, particularly near Bol.-Wereika from 23-25 July 1942. Gorn and his unit were ordered north to reinforce German forces during efforts to slow Soviet counteroffensives between Orel and Voronezh. They repelled a number of strong Soviet attacks during the Battle of Voronezh but suffered heavy casualties, leaving only 55 men combat effective by the end of August.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern #30 on 08 June 1943 as Oberst and commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10, 9. Panzer-Division. Oberst Gorn and his Regiment had a decisive share in the smashing of Soviet breakthrough attempts near Rzhev from 25 November 1942, specifically near Sytschewka (along the Wasusa river) and south of Loshki. During this time, Gorn contributed to his Division's freeing of the 129. Infanterie-Division and the destruction of cut-off enemy forces. The Battles of Rzhev involved prolonged and bloody fighting, with Soviet forces aiming to destroy Army Group Centre and liberate Rzhev, Sychevka (Sytschewka), and Vyazma to eliminate the salient used as a German bridgehead.
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Walter Gorn (24 September 1898 – 10 July 1968) was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. A veteran of both world wars, Gorn began his career as a private with a Grenadier Regiment on the Western Front in 1916 but was forced to leave the Army following the war. He then served as an officer for fifteen years with police units before joining the newly established Wehrmacht in 1935. During World War II, Gorn rose through the ranks and commanded battalions and regiments on the Eastern Front for three years before being selected for general's rank. At the Enns River in Austria, Gorn surrendered to Major General Stanley Eric Reinhart's 261st Infantry Regiment.
Gorn was born on 24 September 1898 in the village of Bieganin, a part of the town of Pleszew near Posen, as the son of farmer Ferdinand Gorn and his wife Anna. During World War I, he enlisted in the German Army and was assigned as Kriegsfreiwilliger (roughly equivalent to Private) to the West Prussian Grenadier-Regiment „König Wilhelm I.“ Nr. 7, operating with the 9th Division on the Western Front. Gorn saw combat at Verdun and Aisne before he was transferred to the replacement machine gun company of V Corps in July 1917.
After a brief period with that unit, Gorn was transferred to the 1st Heavy Machine Gun company of the 36th Landwehr-Assault-Infantry Regiment stationed in his native Posen. He remained in that capacity for the rest of the war and participated mostly in the training of replacement units. For his service during the war, Gorn was decorated with the Prussian Iron Cross 2nd Class.
Following the Armistice, his unit was disbanded, and Gorn joined the Freikorps, paramilitary units consisting of disgruntled and demobilized soldiers. He was assigned to the 2nd Company of the 18th Volunteer-Regiment and took part in combats against the Red Army in Lithuania and Courland. Gorn was promoted to Gefreiter (Lance Corporal) in April 1919 and returned to Germany in July that year. He was promoted to Unteroffizier (Corporal) on 7 September that year and discharged from the Army by the end of the month.
In June 1920, Gorn joined the Schutzpolizei (Protection Police) as Unterwachtmeister (equivalent of Sergeant) and was stationed in Breslau for the next seven years, reaching the rank of Oberwachtmeister (staff sergeant) in April 1923. While in this capacity, he completed several physical trainings and was selected for the Police-Officer-Aspirant Course at the higher police school in Eiche near Potsdam in September 1925.
Upon completing the course one year later, Gorn rejoined his unit in Breslau and was commissioned Leutnant (second lieutenant) on 29 April 1927. He subsequently served as platoon leader until November 1928, when he was transferred to the staff of Police Inspection East as adjutant. Gorn was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) in March 1929 and ordered to the Police School for training as district leader. He completed the training in December 1930 and entered the training course as Traffic-Officer and Motor Vehicle Driver with the Police Inspection for Technology and Traffic in Breslau.
Gorn completed all his instructions in April 1931 and served as Traffic-Officer in Breslau for three years before assuming duty as Motor-Transport-Officer with the Police Department in Iserlohn, Westphalia, in October 1934. He was promoted to Hauptmann (Captain) one month later and returned to Breslau in April 1935 as leader of the Motorcycle-Guards-Unit.
Following Adolf Hitler's rise to power and the creation of the Wehrmacht in mid-1935, Gorn's unit was incorporated into the Army, and he assumed command of the 5th Company of the 3rd Motorcycle-Rifle-Battalion under Oberstleutnant Günther von Manteuffel in Bad Freienwalde. His battalion became a part of the 3rd Panzer Division, and Gorn became more involved in armoured warfare. He participated in the occupation of Sudetenland in October 1938 and the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in March 1939.
In July 1939, Gorn was transferred to the headquarters of the newly created XIX. Army Motorised Corps under General Heinz Guderian and served as Commandant of the Staff-Quarters during the Invasion of Poland, receiving the Clasp to the Iron Cross 2nd Class. He was promoted to Major in March 1940 and assumed command of the 10th Rifle Replacement Battalion in Sankt Pölten, Lower Austria.
During the Battle of the Netherlands in May 1940, his battalion was attached to the 9th Panzer Division, and Gorn later participated in the Battle of France. He was appointed commander of the 1st Battalion, 10th Rifle Regiment in October 1940 and took part in the Invasion of Yugoslavia in early April 1941. Gorn distinguished himself on 8 April and received the Iron Cross 1st Class for bravery.
Only two weeks later, Gorn led his battalion during the advance on the town of Debar in North Macedonia. His orders were to establish contact with Italian troops in the city of Gostivar, and his mixed unit overran a strong hostile resistance line and crushed seven enemy batteries. Another nine enemy batteries, twelve anti-tank guns, and numerous additional war materiel were captured. His attack also liberated 800 Italian prisoners, who were armed and taken under command. For his leadership during the battle, Gorn was decorated with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 20 April 1941.
Gorn led his battalion during the German invasion of the Soviet Union in July 1941 and took part in combats at Uman and Kiev, Ukraine. He was promoted to Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel) in February 1942 and assumed command of the 59th Motorcycle-Rifle-Battalion, operating also with the 9th Panzer Division, one month later. For his previous service during the combats in Kursk Oblast and east Ukraine, Gorn received the German Cross in Gold on 8 February 1942.
He was subsequently ordered with his Motorcycle Battalion north to reinforce German forces during efforts to slow Soviet counteroffensives between Orel and Voronezh. Gorn and his unit repelled a number of strong Soviet attacks during the fighting in Voronezh, but suffered heavy casualties, leaving only 55 men combat effective by the end of August. For his service during that battle, he was decorated with the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 17 August 1942.
Gorn remained in command of the 59th Battalion until October that year, when he was appointed commanding officer of Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 10 attached to the 9th Panzer Division. His regiment participated in the Battles of Rzhev from November 1942 and repelled several Soviet breakthrough attempts, specifically near Sychyovka along the Vazuza river and south of Loshki, where Gorn distinguished himself again and contributed to his Division's freeing of the 129th Infantry Division and the destruction of cut-off enemy forces. For his service during that campaign, he was decorated with Swords to his Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 8 June 1943 and also received the Bulgarian Order of Bravery, IV. Class with swords.
In March 1943, Gorn was promoted to Oberst (Colonel) and ordered back to Germany, where he attended the tactical course at the Panzer Troops School in Wünsdorf near Berlin. Upon completing the course in September 1943, he was appointed commander of training courses at Panzer-Troop-School II in Krampnitz in November 1943. He briefly visited the Führer-Headquarters in early November 1943.
Gorn was appointed commander of Panzer-Troop-School II in January 1944 and remained in that capacity until July 1944, when he was delegated with the leadership of the 561st Grenadier-Division (later redesignated as 561st Volksgrenadier-Division). He was promoted to Generalmajor on 1 October 1944 but fell ill on 23 September 1944, and the division was temporarily commanded by Oberst Felix Becker for three months. Gorn was hospitalized until March 1945.
Upon recovery, Gorn assumed command of the 710th Infantry-Division on 15 April 1945. He led the division until the end of the war and surrendered to U.S. forces on 8 May 1945. Gorn was held in U.S. captivity until 16 June 1947, when he was released.
He died on 10 July 1968 in Rosenheim, aged 69.
Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Gorn
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/5254/Gorn-Walter.htm
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/G/GornW-R.htm
https://rk.balsi.de/index.php?action=list&cat=300
https://web.archive.org/web/20091027052912/http://geocities.com/orion47.geo/index2.html
https://forum.axishistory.com/
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/
https://books.google.com/
https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Walter_Gorn
https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/goldap-operation-soviets-in-the-prussian-heartland
Scherzer, Veit. Die Ritterkreuztrager 1939-1945. Jena, 2007.
Patzwall, Klaus D. / Scherzer, Veit. Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945. Norderstedt, 2001.
Bundesarchiv personnel files for Walter Gorn.
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