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Ohmsen, Walter

    Date of birth:
    June 7th, 1911 (Elmshorn, Germany)
    Date of death:
    February 19th, 1988 (Kiel, Germany)
    Nationality:
    German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

    Biography

    Promotions:

    Kriegsmarine
    01-04-1933: Matrosengefreiter
    01-09-1934: Bootsmannsmaat
    01-09-1936: Oberbootsmannsmaat
    01-11-1936: Bootsmann
    01-07-1937: Oberbootsmann
    01-07-1940: Stabsoberbootsmann
    29-09-1941: Kriegsoffiziersanwärter
    01-01-1942: Leutnant (M.A.)
    01-07-1942: Oberleutnant (M.A.)

    Bundesmarine
    17-03-1956: Kapitänleutnant
    15-11-1957: Korvettenkapitän
    13-08-1965: Fregattenkapitän

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    June 7th, 1944
    Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    June 7th, 1944
    Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    April 20th, 1941
    Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2.Klasse mit Schwertern
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberleutnant (MA) der Reserve
    Unit:
    Marinebatterie "Marcouf" (Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 260)
    Awarded on:
    June 14th, 1944
    The following press article describes why Oberleutnant Ohmsen received the Knight’s Cross…

    “The Battery commander of the coastal battery ‘Marcouf’, Ritterkreuzträger Oberleutnant (M.A.) Walter Ohmsen, was the first to report the beginning of the Allied landing and in doing so initiated the alarm for all units on the western European coast. By his own initiative, his battery refrained from firing at the Invasion fleet until the last minute despite the heaviest of fire from enemy warships and bomber attacks. After finally entering the fight it then was able to sink a cruiser and a transport loaded with munitions. Numerous other enemy craft were damaged. Through his heroic devotion to duty Ohmsen and his brave soldiers were able to hold their tactically significant battery despite heavy losses and becoming encircled by the enemy. Through this he created the possibility for reinforcements to be brought up, while simultaneously preventing the expansion of the Allied bridgehead and the planned enemy breakthrough to the northern coast of the Cotentin.

    Already in the first phase of the Invasion Ohmsen was wounded when he personally led his men in the defense against the enemy landing forces as well as those paratroopers that had landed in the rear of his Battery. He only gave up his Battery after it had been completely destroyed, and even then only following the order of his superior.”
    Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

    Sources

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