Karl-Heinz Wallhäuser

Karl-Heinz Wallhäuser
Born (1922-03-11)11 March 1922
Dieburg
Died 9 June 1996(1996-06-09) (aged 74)
Hofheim
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch  Luftwaffe
Years of service 1939–45
Rank Oberleutnant
Unit Fsch.Pz.Jg.Abt. "HG"
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Karl-Heinz Wallhäuser (11 March 1922 – 9 June 1996) was a German military officer and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career

Karl-Heinz Wallhäuser had been assigned command of a company of Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyers when his division was transferred to the Eastern front. During the first round of fighting, on 9 August, he created the preconditions for the establishment of a new defensive line by repelling Russian advances and launching spoiling attacks of his own. His greatest success was near Studziansk, where he counterattacked and captured a Russian-held village, destroying six tanks as well as several anti-tank and infantry positions. Two of these tanks were destroyed by Wallhäuser himself despite his gunner being being put out of action.[1]

In the fighting in East Prussia later on that year, on 26 October, Wallhäuser's tank destroyers engaged a major Russian tank force and was able to drive it back to its starting line, collecting stragglers along the way. When the neighbouring unit was forced to retreat he counterattacked into the Russians' flank, recapturing the position and inflicting approximately 300 casualties. This defensive success prevented a Russian breakthrough towards Gumbinnen, and Wallhäuser was later awarded the Knight's Cross for this action.[1]

Awards & decorations

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 Kurowski, Franz (1995). The History of the Fallschirm Panzerkorps Hermann Göring. J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing Inc. p. 318.

Bibliography

  • 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 Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. 
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