Walter Gorn

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 Private with 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 the Police units, before joined the newly established Wehrmacht in 1935. During the World War II, Gorn rose through the ranks and commanded battalion and regiment on the Eastern Front for three years, before he was selected for General's rank.

Early years

Gorn was born on September 24, 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 the World War I, he enlisted the German Army and was assigned as Kriegsfreiwilliger (roughly equivalent to Private) to West Prussian Grenadier-Regiment „König Wilhelm I.“ Nr. 7 operating with 9th Division on the Western Front. Gorn saw combat on Verdun and Aisne, before he was transferred to replacement machine gun company of V Corps in July 1917.

His division was subsequently renamed to 561st Volksgrenadier Division, to build morale, appealing at once to nationalism (Volk) and Germany's older military traditions (Grenadier). Gorn remained in command until late September, when he was temporarily relieved of command due to illness. He spent three months in hospital and was promoted to Generalmajor on October 1, 1944.

He commanded his new division during the final combats with Red Army in the area of Neulengbach and St. Pölten along the Danube river, before retreated to the town of Steyr in Upper Austria, where he surrendered his command to a United States Army unit on May 8, 1945.

Postwar life

Gorn spent two years in allied captivity and was released in June 1947. He died on July 10, 1968, aged 69 in Rosenheim, Germany.

Decorations

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords Knight's Cross on 20 April 1941 as Major and commander of the 1st Battalion, 10th Schützen Regiment 113th Oak Leaves on 17 August 1942 as Oberstleutnant and commander of 59th Krad-Schützen Battalion 30th Swords on 8 June 1943 as Oberst and commander of 10th Panzergrenadier Regiment German Cross in Gold on 8 February 1942 as Major in the 9th Panzer Division Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (16 October 1939) & 1st Class (8 April 1941) Prussian Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class Panzer Badge in Bronze Eastern Front Medal Wound Badge (1939) in Black in Silver Close Combat Clasp in Bronze Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle Bar Wehrmacht Long Service Award, 1st Class Bulgarian Order of Bravery, 3rd Class Austrian War Commemorative Medal with Swords Hungarian War Commemorative Medal with Swords Bulgarian War Commemorative Medal with Swords