Date of birth:

May 1st, 1914 (Heinersdorf-Lebus/Brandenburg, Germany)

Date of death:

November 21st, 1991 (Gelsenkirchen/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)

Nationality:

German

Gerhard Türke was born May 1st, 1914 in Heinersdorf, Kreis Lebus. From 1934 onwards he studied in Frankfurt to become a teacher and he started teaching in a Volksschule (people’s school) from 1936 onwards.
October 17th, 1936, Türke fullfilled his mandatory militairy service in Infanterie Regiment 29 after which he continued teaching in 1938.
At the outbreak of WW 2 he was called up again and he participated in the campaign in the West. Together with his unit, he was deployed on the Eastern Front as part of the 6. Armee. In the vicinity of Stalingrad, he participated in the struggle with 3. Infanterie-Division (Motorisiert) and was named Chef of 3. Kompanie. Shortly before 6. Armee capitulated, he was promoted to Hauptmann der Reserve and flown out of the encirclement around Stalingrad. In Biarritz, France, he was named Kommandeur I.Battalion/Grenadier-Regiment 29 (Motorisiert) and deployed near Nettuno in Italy.
During the remainder of the war, he and his unit saw action on the Western Front until he, holding the rank of Major der Reserve, was made a POW in the Ruhr area.
After WW 2, Türke returned to teaching and on July 10th, 1957 he was named head master of a Hauptschule (High School) in Gelsenkirchen and held this post up to his retirement in 1979.
Gerhard Türke passed away on November 21st, 1991 in Gelsenkirchen.

Promotions:
April 20th, 1939: Leutnant der Reserve;
February 2nd, 1942: Oberleutnant der Reserve;
December 1st, 1942: Hauptmann der Reserve;
November 1st, 1944: Major.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 1939

Awarded on:

July 10th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

January 21st, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

January 21st, 1941

Silver version.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

January 21st, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Chef, 3. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment (motorisiert) 29, 3. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert), Heer

Awarded on:

December 17th, 1942

Awarded for his role during the battle of Stalingrad, specifically the fight for Hill 135.1 (located north of Marinovka). The Soviets were able to penetrate the German line on the 24.11.1942, but Türke and his Kompanie launched a counterattack during the night and recaptured the old positions. They then held them against further attacks over the next few days.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 13th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)

Unit:

Führer, I. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment (motorisiert) 29, 3. Panzergrenadier-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

December 22nd, 1944

• Photo 1: familiefoto
• Photo: Family photo via Horst Dobrunz
  
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
  - SCHUMANN, R., "Ritterkreuzträger Profile" Heft Nr. 5., UNITEC-Medienvertrieb, Stengelheim.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Mitteilungsblatt FM, Heft 1, I/2007, Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage, 2007
  - Family records
  - Die Ritterkreuztraeger der Deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS
  - Axis History Factbook