Date of birth:

January 2nd, 1893 (Blüthen/Brandenburg, Germany)

Date of death:

September 14th, 1961 (Köln-Merheim/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

For a wound received during the First World War on October 5th, 1914, Walter Hoerlein also received a Verwundetenabzeichen im Schwarz on May 1st, 1923.

Promotions:
10th March 1911: Fähnrich;
27th January 1912: Unteroffizier;
16th June 1913: Leutnant;
27th September 1919: Oberleutnant;
1st February 1927: Hauptmann (RDA 35);
1st October 1934: Major (RDA 18);
1st April 1937: Oberstleutnant (RDA 25);
1st April 1940: Oberst;
1st April 1942: Generalmajor;
1st January 1943: Genralleutnant;
9th November 1944: General der Infanterie.

Career:
?: 12. / 4. (Westpreussisches) Infanterie-Regiment 140;
5th October 1914 - 13th July 1918: wounded becoming POW;
3rd May 1945 - 14th April 1947: POW.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

A. Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment Lübeck

Awarded on:

December 20th, 1934

Nr. 487/34.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Infanterie-Regiment 69

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Infanterie-Regiment 69

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Infanterie-Regiment 69

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

I. / Infanterie-Regiment 69

Awarded on:

January 28th, 1937

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur I. / Infanterie-Regiment 69

Awarded on:

October 12th, 1939

Had already received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on October 10th, 1914.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

I. / Infanterie-Regiment 69

Awarded on:

October 28th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Infanterie-Regiment 69

Awarded on:

January 29th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

I. / Infanterie-Regiment 69

Awarded on:

February 16th, 1940

Awarded in recognition for a wound received on September 11th, 1939.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 80 / 34. Infanterie-Division / XII.Armee-Korps / 2.Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte

Awarded on:

July 30th, 1941

On the 22.06.1941 Oberst Hoernlein and his Infanterie-Regiment 80 broke through the Soviet fortifications south of Brest-Litovsk. After this the Regiment launched a swift and bold thrust to the bridge over the Muchawiec river near Huznie (4 km east of Brest-Litovsk), capturing it undamaged. This feat was of major importance for the continued German advance, and it enabled the 3. Panzer-Division to cross over the river and begin its drive into Soviet territory that evening. Hoernlein would be recognized for this action with the award of the Knight’s Cross.

399th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Stab / Infanterie-Regiment 80

Awarded on:

August 9th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalmajor (Brigadier)

Unit:

Kommandeur Infanterie-Division "Großdeutschland"

Awarded on:

February 14th, 1943

Award 304/2.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalleutnant (Major-general)

Unit:

Kommandeur Infanterie-Division "Großdeutschland"

Awarded on:

March 15th, 1943

The following newspaper excerpt (dated 17.03.1943) describes why Hoernlein received the Oakleaves…

“… The all-volunteer Infanterie-Division ‘Großdeutschland’ smashed the bulk of 3 enemy rifle divisions and 2 anti-tank brigades during the bitter defensive combat west of Belgorod in the time period 10.-13.03.1943. The entire complement of these units’ heavy weaponry was wiped out during the fighting. In this period of combat the Division’s Grenadiers and Panzers forced the Soviet formations to hastily abandon a significant amount of terrain, and a total of 29 tanks, 146 artillery pieces and 107 mortars/MGs/anti-tank rifles were either destroyed or captured. More than 400 prisoners were taken and a much larger number of dead Bolsheviks were counted.”

213th Award.

• Photo 1: Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv
• Photo: Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv
  
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1997.
  - Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
  - Vorläufiges Besitzzeugnis DKiG, RK, EL
  - Besitzzeugnis ISA, Verwundeten Schwarz
  - Verleihungsurkunde EK2, Frontkämpfer, Dienst II/IV, Dienst I, 1 Oktober 1938, Spange EK2, EK1, DKiG
  - Beförderungsurkunde Fähnrich, Unteroffizier, Leutnant, Hauptmann, Major, Oberstleutnant
  - Die Grenz-Zeitung (Edition 75).