Date of birth:

May 19th, 1914 (Schwelm/Westernphalia, Germany)

Date of death:

October 31st, 1989 (Hemsbünde/Lowersaxony, Germany)

Nationality:

German

Walter Stracke was, as Hauptmann der Reserve and Führer Panzeraufklärungs-Abteilung 26 presented for the Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz on 3rd June 1945 in Prisoners-of-War camp Ghedi by Generalleutnant Linnarz, Kommandeur 26. Panzer-Division with entry date of 12th April 1945. By official decisions the presentation could not be trasformed to an actual awarding.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 3rd, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 12th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 10th, 1941

Bronze version.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

November 26th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

1. Kompanie, Kradschützen-Bataillon 53, 3. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert), Heer

Awarded on:

November 29th, 1941

Award 21/21.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Chef, 2. Kompanie, Kradschützen-Bataillon 53, 3. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert), Heer

Awarded on:

November 21st, 1942

In the defensive fighting northwest of Stalingrad near the end of September 1942, Stracke led his Kompanie in a counterattack against a commanding hilltop position. Fighting at the front of his men, they were able to recapture the hill in close combat and thus drastically improve the overall German defensive line in this area.

For this action, as well as the many days of previous close combat he had participated in, Stracke received the Knight's Cross.

1319th Heer Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 25th, 1943

• Photo 1: Wehrkundearchiv
• Photo: Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv
  
• - 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.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1998.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
  - Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945