Walther Fischer von Weikersthal
| Walther Fischer von Weikersthal | |
|---|---|
|
Walther Fischer von Weikersthal (left side with glasses) in Northern France with General der Infanterie Felix Schwalbe (right side with Knight's Cross) and Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel | |
| Born |
15 September 1890 Stuttgart |
| Died |
11 February 1953 (aged 62) Tettnang |
| Allegiance |
 German Empire (to 1918).svg.png){kind=small} Weimar Republic (to 1933).svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Heer |
| Years of service | 1909–45 |
| Rank | General der Infanterie |
| Commands held |
35. Infanterie-Division LIII. Armeekorps LXVII. Armeekorps |
| Battles/wars |
|
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Walther Ludwig Otto Karl Bernhard Fischer von Weikersthal (15 September 1890 – 11 February 1953) was a highly decorated General der Infanterie in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Weikersthal was taken prisoner in May 1945 and was released from American custody in 1947.
Early life
Walther Fischer von Weikersthal was born in 1890 to an aristocratic family, the son of a captain in the Royal Württembergische Army. He attended Gymnasium in Rottweil and Stuttgart, then entered the 1. Württembergisches Grenadier-Regiment in 1909.[1]
World War I
Weikersthal served on both fronts in World War I, including sixteen months on the Western Front (where he was wounded in France in September 1914) and nine months on the Eastern Front. As general staff officer of XIII Army Corps, he assisted with secretive troop demobilizations in fall 1918.[2]
Awards and decorations
- Bavarian Military Merit Order 4th Class (6 May 1913)
- Iron Cross (1914)
- 2nd Class (16 October 1914)
- 1st Class (18 July 1916)
- Württemberg Military Merit Medal in Gold (21 December 1914)
- Knight's Cross of the Military Merit Order (Württemberg, 7 August 1916)
- Austria-Hungarian Military Merit Cross 3rd Class with War Decoration (21 January 1918)
- Knight's Cross 1st class of the Friedrich Order, with Swords (Württemberg, 29 March 1918)
- Wound Badge (1914)
- in Black (22 May 1918)
- Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (23 February 1935)
- Anschluss Medal (8 July 1939)
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class (22 December 1939)
- 1st Class (16 June 1940)
- Eastern Front Medal
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 6 August 1941 as Generalleutnant and commander of 35. Infanterie-Division [3]
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Wildermuth, David W. (June 2012). "Widening the Circle: General Weikersthal and the War of Annihilation, 1941–42". Central European History 45 (2): 306–324. doi:10.1017/S0008938912000064.
External links
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Oberst Ernst Busch |
Commander of 9. Infanterie-Regiment 15 October 1935 – 30 September 1936 |
Succeeded by Oberst Werner Freiherr von und zu Gilsa |
| Preceded by Generalleutnant Hans-Wolfgang Reinhard |
Commander of 35. Infanterie-Division 25 November 1940 – 1 December 1941 |
Succeeded by Generalmajor Rudolf Freiherr von Roman |
| Preceded by General der Infanterie Karl Weisenberger |
Commander of LIII. Armeekorps 1 December 1941 – 15 January 1942 |
Succeeded by General der Infanterie Heinrich Clößner |
| Preceded by None |
Commander of LXVII. Armeekorps 25 September 1942 – 1 June 1944 |
Succeeded by Generalleutnant Alfred Gause |
| Preceded by Generalleutnant Alfred Gause |
Commander of LXVII. Armeekorps 7 June 1944 – 24 July 1944 |
Succeeded by Generalleutnant Carl Püchler |
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