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Denkert, Walter

Date of birth:
February 23rd, 1897 (Kiel/Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)
Date of death:
July 9th, 1982 (Kiel/Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

In service form August 22nd 1914.

02.02.1915: Gefreiter
01.03.1915: Unteroffizier
01.04.1915: Vizefeldwebel
14.05.1915: Leutnant der Reserve
01.10.1919: Polizei-Leutnant
01.01.1921: Polizei-Oberleutnant
01.10.1927: Polizei-Hauptmann
01.11.1934: Polizei-Major
15.10.1935: Major
01.03.1939: Oberstleutnant
01.02.1942: Oberst
01.06.1944: Generalmajor
20.04.1945: Generalleutnant

22.08.1914: volunteered - Ersatz-Bataillon IR 84
05.11.1914: Lanwehr-IR 23
13.10.1915: Landwehr-IR 379
30.08.1917: Kompanieführer IR 379
14.10.1918: Füsilier-Regiment 86
02.03.1919: Adjutant Freikorps Schleswig-Holstein
01.10.1919: entered the Polizei Hamburg and Altona as Polizei-Leutnant
01.06.1934: Ia - Stab Polizei Altona
15.10.1935: Major und Kompaniechef im IR 65
06.10.1936: Kommandeur I./ IR 65
01.10.1938: Kommandeur MG-Bataillon 52
26.08.1939: Kommandeur II./ IR 271
01.04.1941: OKH
19.08.1941: Führerreserve Armeegruppe Süd
02.09.1941: Kommandeur IR 8
29.09.1942: Führerreserve OKH
11.06.1943: Kommandeur Waffenschule Charkow
25.01.1944: Führerreserve OKH
03.10.1944: Kommandeur 3. Panzergrenadier-Division
08.05.1945: POW
1947: released

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1940
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
June 1940
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:
Stellvertreter Divisions Führer, 19.Panzer-Division, 1.Panzerarmee, Heeresgruppe Nordukraine
Awarded on:
May 14th, 1944
Denkert’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“Oberst Denkert had been assigned command of the 19. Panzer-Division, and in this capacity he launched an attack with his heavily weakened Kampfgruppe from the Skala area along the road towards the northwest on the 31.03.1944. The Kampfgruppe succeeded in taking Gusztyn following extremely tough combat against much larger infantry and tank forces. Thereafter, following fluid and costly fighting for both sides, Losiacz was stormed, all while Oberst Denkert was continually inspiring his troops from the foremost line.

As contact with Gruppe Back did not exist at the time, Oberst Denkert decided to launch a further attack during the night. He would advance beyond Losiacz towards the northwest and assault an enemy position that was protecting Davidkowce from the eastern edge of a forest. Despite a heavy snowstorm he and his Division, along with the subordinated elements of the Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 16, succeeded in breaking through the strong anti-tank gun positions. Through the capture of this forest he created the preconditions for the capture of Davidkowce, which took place on the following day. The capture of this village was of great importance for the protection of Korpsgruppe Chevallerie’s northern flank as well as the prevention of the enemy’s goal to outflank this unit. Numerous tank kills were the measurable successes of this heavy combat. With this the decisive precondition for the thrust towards and across the Seret river for the bulk of the Korpsgruppe was attained.”

Submitted on May 3rd 1944.
Preliminary document and decoration on May 16th 1944 to Heeresgruppe Nordukraine.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalmajor (Brigadier)
Unit:
Kommandeur 3. Panzer-Grenadier-Division
Awarded on:
November 26th, 1944
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalmajor (Brigadier)
Unit:
Kommandeur, 3. Panzer-Grenadier-Division
Awarded on:
March 8th, 1945
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

The bronze version.
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen

Sources

Photo