Walter Hörnlein


Walter Hermann Hoernlein was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II, who commanded the Großdeutschland Division. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

Life

From Easter 1899, Walter attended elementary school in Premslin, from Easter 1903 to Easter 1908, he was a cadet at the Cadet Academy Plön and then at the Royal Prussian Main Cadet Institute in Groß-Lichterfelde near Berlin until January 1912. On 27 January 1912, he was transferred from the Cadet Institute to the 4. Westpreußisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 140 as an Officer Cadet.

1934 to 1945

  • 13 August 1934 Newly sworn-in
  • 15 October 1935 Commander of the I. Battalion/Infanterie-Regiment 69 in Hamburg
  • * 12 November to 29 November 1935 commanded to the staff officer course of the X Army Corps in Hamburg
  • * On 12 October 1937, the regiment was motorized and subsequently designated Infantry Regiment 69. From 12 October 1937, the regiment was also subordinated to the 20th Infantry Division.
  • 1 November 1939 Appointed commander of the Infanterie-Regiment 80/34. Infanterie-Division
  • 29 July 1941 Führerreserve /Army High Command Leader Reserve
  • * simultaneously assigned to the Führerreserve of Army Group Center
  • 1 August 1941 Appointed commander of the Infantry Regiment “Großdeutschland”
  • 27 March 1942 Commanded to the Army High Command for the purpose of directing the formation of the Infantry Division "Großdeutschland"
  • 10 April 1942 Delegated with the leadership of the Infantry Division "Großdeutschland"
  • 1 May 1942 Appointed commander of the Infantry Division "Großdeutschland"
  • * 25 May to 1 July 1943 granted leave
  • * From June 1943, the division was reorganized into the Panzer Grenadier Division "Großdeutschland"
  • 20 January 1944 Führerreserve /Army High Command Leader Reserve
  • * 10 February 1944 granted three months leave
  • 1 August 1944 Delegated with the leadership of the LXIV. Reservekorps
  • 2 September 1944 Führerreserve /Army High Command Leader Reserve
  • 7 September 1944 Delegated with the leadership of the LXXXII. Armeekorps
  • 1 November 1944 Appointed commanding general of the LXXXII. Armeekorps
  • * disqualified for frontline service as commanding general of a corps after only four weeks due to poor health including significant weight loss
  • 30 November with effect from 1 December 1944 Führerreserve /Army High Command Leader Reserve
  • 5 December 1944 Commanded to Military District X for the purpose of training as deputy commanding general
  • 1 February 1945 Appointed deputy commanding general of the Deputy General Command II Army Corps in Stettin and commander of Military District II
  • * 10 February 1945 simultaneously commandant of the Stettin defense area
  • 13 March 1945 Released from the previous task as commandant of the Stettin defense area for further use
  • 21 March 1945 Again deputy commanding general of the Deputy General Command II Army Corps in Stettin and commander of Military District II
  • 11 April 1945 Appointed commanding general of the XXVII. Armeekorps
  • * The corps was evacuated westward via Danzig and assigned to the 3rd Panzer Army as a reserve on the Eastern Front. At the end of April 1945, the corps was pushed back via Templin to Fürstenberg. The last units of the corps, retreating westward via Parchim towards the Elbe River, surrendered to American troops on 4 May 1945 in the area north of Ludwigslust. Hoernlein was repatriated in 1947.

Promotions

  • 27 January 1912 Fähnrich
  • 16 June 1913 Leutnant
  • 27 September 1919 Oberleutnant with Patent from 18 August 1919
  • * 1 July 1922 received new Rank Seniority from 20 June 1918
  • 31 January 1927 Hauptmann with effect from 1 February 1927
  • 1 October 1934 Major
  • 20 April 1937 Oberstleutnant with effect and RDA from 1 April 1937
  • 16 March 1940 Oberst with effect and RDA from 1 April 1940
  • 8 April 1942 Generalmajor with effect and RDA from 1 April 1942
  • 21 January 1943 Generalleutnant with effect and RDA from 1 January 1943
  • 15 November 1944 General der Infanterie with effect and RDA from 9 November 1944

Awards and decorations