Date of birth:

January 13th, 1903 (Altona an der Elbe/Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)

Date of death:

October 24th, 1944 (Glodowo, Gnesen, West Prussia)

Buried on:

Polish War Cemetery Pulawy
Grave: UNK.

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Promotions:
01.07.1928: Leutnant (1)
01.04.1932: Oberleutnant (31)
01.12.1935: Hauptmann - RDA 01.05.1935 (24u)
01.09.1940: Major (39)
30.11.1942: Oberstleutnant - RDA 01.04.1942 (232a)
00.10.1944: (posthumously but uncertain) Oberst RDA 01.10.1944

Career:
00.00.1921: Jäger-Bataillon, 4. (Preußischen) Infanterie-Regiment, Kolberg
01.05.1929-01.05.1931: 7. / Infanterieregiment 4, Kolberg
01.05.1931-01.04.1934: 8. (MG) / Infanterieregiment 4, Kolberg
00.00.1933: Verbindungsoffizier zur SA
01.04.1934-01.02.1935: 17. (MG) / Infanterieregiment 4, Neustettin
15.10.1935-07.10.1936: Chef der 4. (MG) Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 25
07.10.1936-10.11.1938: Chef, 8. (MG) / Infanterieregiment 25, Stargard
10.11.1938: Offizier für Heeresmotorisierung, Stab, 2. Infanterie-Division, Stettin
31.01.1940: Lehroffizier, Lehrabteilung II, Infanterieschule
15.12.1940-01.11.1942: Kommandeur, I. / Infanterie-Regiment "Großdeutschland"
01.11.1942-28.01.1943: Kommandeur, I. / Grenadierersatzregiment "Großdeutschland"
28.01.1943: Führerreserve OKH (II)
04.02.1943: Kommandeur, Wach-Bataillon „Großdeutschland", Berlin
31.05.1944: Führerreserve OKH (II)
00.07.1944: Oberkommando der Wehrmacht
18.07.1944: Kommandeur, Panzerbrigade 104, Warschau
20.08.1944: Kommandeur, Panzerbrigade 104, 561. Volks-Grenadier-Division and 1. Infanterie-Division, near Schaken
27.08.1944: Kommandeur, Panzerbrigade 104, 3. Kavallerie-Brigade, 2. Armee, Bug and Borowcew
03.09.1944: Kommandeur, Panzerbrigade 104, 542. Volks-Grenadier-Division and 292. Infanterie-Division, 2. Armee, Narew then Rozan then Obrebek
08.10.1944: Kommandeur, Panzerbrigade 104, 28. Jäger-Division, Narew then Stary Golymin, Landkreis Mackeim, Orzyc then Chiliny
19.10.1944: Kommandeur, Panzerbrigade 104, 7. Infanterie-Division, region Mackein
24.10.1944: Kommandeur, Panzerbrigade 104, Infanterie-Regiment 62, 7. Infanterie-Division, harsch fightings near Swelice – Klepowo, counter-attack near Pultusk, MIA while blocking a soviet counter-attack in Klepowo-Glodowo region

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Awarded on:

September 22nd, 1931

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 11th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 15th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Führer, I. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment "Großdeutschland", 2. Panzerarmee

Awarded on:

April 1st, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 12th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 5th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

December 15th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, I. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment "Großdeutschland", Panzergrenadier-Division 'Großdeutschland'

Awarded on:

February 8th, 1943

At 07:00 on the 03.12.1942 the Soviets attacked the positions of Kampfgruppe Lorenz (located near Kusowlewo), held only as a chain of strongpoints, with tanks and infantry. The Soviets succeeded in penetrating the defenses near the village of Wereista. The battle spread to the village to Kusowlewo itself. Here the defending German forces (among which included the Bataillon commanded by Oberstleutnant Gehrke) fought back furiously, and by nightfall the GD-Grenadiers had destroyed 13 of the 14 attacking Soviet tanks with magnetic anti-tank mines and other close combat weapons. The supporting German Sturmgeschütze destroyed a few other Soviet tanks. All this resulted in the collapse of the Soviet attack in this sector. Oberstleutnant Gehrke would receive the Knight’s Cross for his actions here.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Wilco Vermeer
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
  - TEGETHOFF, RALPH, Die Ritterkreuzträger des Panzerkorps Großdeutschland und seiner Schwesterverbände, DS- Vlg. o.J., Riesa, 1998.
  

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