TracesOfWar needs your help! Every euro, pound or dollar you contribute greatly supports the continuation of this website. Go to stiwot.nl and donate!

Hippel, von, Walter

Date of birth:
May 27th, 1897 (Friedrichsthal,Eastern Prussia)
Date of death:
November 29th, 1972 (Bendestorf,Lower Saxony)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Generalleutnant Walter Ernst Georg Ludwig von Hippel

Promotions:
Portepee-Fähnrich: 8 August 1914
Degen-Fähnrich: 21 December 1914 (Patent 24 December 1914)
Leutnant (without Patent): 24 December 1914 (Patent established 27 January 1915)
Oberleutnant: 10 August 1925 (RDA 1 April 1925)
Rittmeister/Hauptmann: 1 April 1931
Major: 1 January 1936
Oberstleutnant: 1 January 1939
Oberst: 19 July 1940
Generalmajor: 1 April 1943
Generalleutnant: 1 August 1944

Career:
08.08.1914: Fähnrich, Infanterie-Regiment „Großherzog von Sachsen" (5.Thüringisches) Nr. 94
01.04.1935: transferred to the Luftwaffe
01.10.1939-06.07.1940: Oberstleutnant, Kommandeur, Flak-Regiment 102
00.06.1941-00.06.1942: Oberst, Kommandeur, 10. Flak-Brigade
01.07.1942-00.04.1944: Kdr, 3. Flak-Division, Hamburg
00.05.1944-01.02.1945: Kommandeur, 25. Flak-Division
10.02.1945-00.04.1945: Kdr, 27. Flak-Division, Königsberg
08.05.1945: British POW
00.00.1948: released

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
March 16th, 1915
Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (1914)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
March 22nd, 1915
with swords
Verdienstkreuz II. Klasse zum Hausorden vom Weißen Falken
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
May 27th, 1917
Eisernes Kreuz 1.Klasse (1914)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
August 8th, 1917
Wilhelm-Ernst-Kriegskreuz
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
July 18th, 1918
with swords
Komtur II. Klasse des Herzoglich Sachsen-Ernestinischer Hausorden
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
September 1918
Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber (1918)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
October 1st, 1918
Allgemeines Ehrenzeichen / Hessische Tapferkeitsmedaille
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
1934
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
Awarded on:
1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
Awarded on:
1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  3.Klasse, 12 Jahre
Awarded on:
1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  2. Klasse, 18 Jahre
Awarded on:
1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  1.Klasse, 25 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
June 1st, 1940
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 15th, 1940
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Flak-Regiment 102, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
July 29th, 1940
The following wartime excerpt describes why Hippel would be awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“Oberst von Hippel and his Flak-Regiment proved themselves in battle while supporting a Panzerkorps during the advance through Luxembourg and Belgium up until the closing of the Operation on the Channel coastline. Oberst von Hippel fulfilled his assigned tasks in close cooperation with the Panzer forces while displaying great bravery, decisiveness, prudence and skill.

In the further fighting along the Somme, Marne and Seine, as well as in the pursuit battles into southern France, Oberst von Hippel once again distinguished himself while leading his Regiment. He did so through his skillful military acumen, all while demonstrating great calm and personal readiness for action. During the time period 10.05.-22.06.1940 the Flak-Regiment 102 destroyed the following…

- 500 aircraft
- 31 tanks
- 33 bunkers
- 1 warship
- 21 transports

Of the 500 aircraft, 242 were destroyed or captured while on the ground.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
August 25th, 1941
Flakkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 13th, 1942
Erdkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe

Sources

Photo