Date of birth:

October 31st, 1913 (Nagold/Württemberg, Germany)

Date of death:

July 24th, 1967 (Tamm/Baden-Württemberg, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Promotions:
April 1st, 1937: Leutnant (RDA: -318-);
August 1st, 1939: Oberleutnant (RDA: -342-);
February 1st, 1942: Rittmeister (RDA: -478a-);
February 1st, 1944: Major (RDA: -6g-).

Career:
October 28th, 1934: Reiter-Regiment 18;
September 3rd, 1939: Schwadronchef, Aufklärungs-Abteilung 44;
January 1st, 1943: Kommandeur, Radfahr-Lehrabteilung, Schule für schnelle Truppen;
August 26th, 1943: Generalstabsausbildung, 328. Infanterie-Division;
December 6th, 1943 - May 6th, 1944: Kriegsakademie.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef, 2. Schwadron, Aufklärungs-Abteilung 44, 44. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

September 23rd, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef, 2. Schwadron, Aufklärungs-Abteilung 44, 44. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

October 6th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef, 2. Schwadron, Aufklärungs-Abteilung 44, 44. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

September 24th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef, 2. Schwadron, Aufklärungs-Abteilung 44, 44. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

November 2nd, 1941

The following wartime excerpt describes why Birk was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“Rittmeister Walter Birk… has proven himself to be a brave and outstanding soldier during the fighting in Poland, France and the Soviet Union. During the combat around Szkoptzy, Oberleutnant Birk took over command of a Vorausabteilung after its previous commander was wounded in action. In this capacity he mastered the situation in his battle sector up until when our side achieved a total breakthrough.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Rittmeister

Unit:

Chef, 2. Schwadron, Aufklärungs-Abteilung 44, 44. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

August 13th, 1942

• Photo 1: Personalkarte
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - Personalkarte