Heinrich Gaedcke

Ludwig Heinrich Gaedcke (16 January 1905 – 22 December 1992) was a German general.

Life Early life He was the son of lawyer and notary Carl Gaedcke (1868–1913) and grew up in Guben. Following graduation from the Gymnasium in 1924, he joined the 8th Prussian Infantry Regiment as a professional soldier in 1925. He served in a variety of posts until 1935, when he was promoted to captain and admitted to the War Academy for general staff training. Subsequently, he worked as a clerk in the General Staff of the Army.

Second World War During the Second World War he served as a general staff officer of the 25th Infantry Division from June 1940 to January 1943, and was promoted to major in 1940, lieutenant-colonel in 1943 and colonel in 1943. In February 1943 he was assigned to the reserve of the Army Command and spent much of 1943 teaching at the military academy. He was acting general staff officer of the XXIV Panzer Corps in October–November 1943 and of the XI Army Corps from December 1943 to February 1944. From February to July 1944 he was again assigned to the reserve. In July 1944 he became the deputy of the chief of the general staff of the 4th Army and in August 1944 he became the chief of the general staff of the 6th Army. He was promoted to major general in 1944.

Awards and decorations Wehrmacht Long Service Award, 4th to 3rd Class Sudetenland Medal with the Prague Castle Bar Medal to Commemorate the Homecoming of the Memelland Iron Cross (1939), 2nd and 1st Class German Cross in Gold on 7 March 1942 as Major im Generalstab in the 25. Infanterie-Division (motorized) Winter Battle in the East 1941–42 Medal Order of the Crown of Romania, Commander's Cross Order of Merit of the Kingdom of Hungary, Commander's Cross with Swords on War Ribbon Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 7 April 1944 as Oberst im Generalstab and Chief of the Generalstab of XI. Armeekorps Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1965) Legion of Merit (1965)