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Hartmann, Walter (General der Artillerie)

Date of birth:
July 23rd, 1891 (Mülheim an der Ruhr/Rhineprovince, Germany)
Date of death:
March 11th, 1977 (Hameln/Lower Saxony, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
08.04.1911: Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier
30.06.1911: Fähnrich
04.05.1912: Leutnant
13.03.1916: Oberleutnant
01.12.1921: Hauptmann
01.10.1932: Major
01.04.1936: Oberstleutnant
01.06.1938: Oberst
01.10.1941: Generalmajor
01.02.1943: Generalleutnant
01.05.1944: General der Artillerie

Career:
01.10.1910: entered Army
01.10.1910: Fahnenjunker in the 12th Field-Artillery-Regiment
01.10.1913: Mounted Battalion of the 12th Field-Artillery-Regiment
26.03.1916: Replacement-Battalion of the 12th Field-Artillery-Regiment
16.04.1916: Beobachter, 7th Flying-Replacement-Battalion
14.06.1916: 232nd Artillery-Flying-Battalion
27.01.1917: 1st Adjutant of Artillery-Flying-School East
01.06.1918: Flying-Group-Commander 21, Training in General Staff Service to XXI. Reserve-Corps
15.12.1918: Adjutant of the Commander of Flying 9, Kurland
01.01.1919: Battery-Leader in the Kurland Field-Artillery-Regiment
01.06.1919: General-Staff-Officer with General-Command of VI. Reserve-Corps
05.12.1919: 12th Field-Artillery-Regiment
01.04.1920: Adjutant of Artillery-Leader 12
01.01.1921: 4th Artillery-Regiment
03.01.1921: training of Officers with Special Duties with the Staff of 4th Division, Dresden
18.05.1921: training as Subsidiary Detached Officer
01.10.1921: subsidiary-Leadership-Training with the Staff of 4th Division
01.10.1922: 4th Artillery-Regiment
01.05.1923: Staff of 4th Division
01.10.1925: 4th Artillery-Regiment
01.10.1926: Staff of the 4th Division
01.04.1928: Chief, 5th Battery, 4th Artillery-Regiment
22.10.1928: Firing-Course for Artillery Officers in Munster
01.10.1931: Staff, II. Battalion, 4th Artillery-Regiment
31.10.1932: retired
01.11.1932: instructor in China
01.03.1934: reactivated, Staff of the 4th Artillery-Regiment
01.10.1934: Commander, IV. Battalion, Artillery-Regiment Naumburg
15.10.1935: Commander, I. Battalion, 60th Artillery-Regiment
12.10.1937: Commander, 24th Artillery-Regiment
25.11.1940: Artillery-Commander 140 (Artillery-Leader of LII. Army-Corps)
15.07.1941: Severely Wounded (lost left arm and left leg) - in Hospital the Führer-Reserve
01.05.1942: Commander, Special-Purpose-Division 407
10.09.1942: Commander, 390th Field-Training-Division
01.04.1943: Commander, 87th Infantry-Division
20.11.1943: Führer-Reserve OKH
05.01.1944: course for Commanding Generals
05.02.1944: Army-Group North for Use as Representative for Leave and Sick Commanding Generals
01.02.1944-30.03.1944: delegated with the Leadership of I. Army-Corps
02.05.1944: Army-Group South Ukraine for Use as Representative for Leave and Sick Commanding Generals
10.05.1944: commanding General, XXXXIX. Mountain-Corps
10.09.1944: commanding General, VIII. Army-Corps
18.04.1945: commanding General, XXIV. Panzer-Corps
08.05.1945: US POW
20.06.1947: released

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Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
September 28th, 1914
Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (1914)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
March 9th, 1915
Ritterkreuz des Militär-St.-Heinrichs-Orden
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
September 30th, 1916
Eisernes Kreuz 1.Klasse (1914)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
with swords
Ritterkreuz II. Klasse des Königlich Sächsischer Albrechtsordens
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:
September 21st, 1939

Had already received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 28th September 1914.
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 1st, 1939

Had already received the Iron Cross 1st Class on 30th September 1916.
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
July 1941
WIA 15.07.1941
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:
Arko 140, 17. Armee, Heeresgruppe Süd
Awarded on:
July 30th, 1941

151st Award.
Anerkennungsurkunde des Oberbefehlshabers des Heeres
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:
Artillerie-Kommandeur 140, 17. Armee, Heeresgruppe Süd
Awarded on:
August 10th, 1941
Awarded for his decisive role in the successful breakthrough of the 100. (leichten) Infanterie-Division through the Stalin line at Koserowka on the 15.07.1941. Only by his directing the artillery fire from the foremost line (in the face of furious enemy fire) was it possible to swiftly and flexibly adjust the artillery support to suit the needs of the German infantry. In the end it would help massively in enabling the Division to achieve a swift breakthrough.

409th Award.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalleutnant (Major-general)
Unit:
Kommandeur, 87. Infanterie-Division, VI. Armee-Korps, 3. Panzer-Armee, Heeresgruppe Mitte
Awarded on:
November 30th, 1943
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Awarded for the outstanding leadership of his Division, and in particular for the following actions…

1) Leading 2 platoons of the Jäger-Bataillon 1 to Beljanskaja in order to seal off an Soviet penetration, a feat made all the more remarkable by the fact that he had by then been amputated twice! (19.09.1943)

2) Personally leading the divisional reserve group along with 20 men of his staff against Soviet forces that had moved 15 km beyond the German frontline and struck the divisional supply units on the Janowitschi—Demidow road. (23.09.1943)

3) Clearing up a dangerous situation near Tischanowo. (24.09.1943)

340th Award.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
General der Artillerie (Lieutenant-General of Artillerie)
Unit:
Kommandierender General, VIII. Armee-Korps, 17. Armee, Heeresgruppe Mitte
Awarded on:
March 18th, 1945
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern
Awarded for the major part he had in ensuring the holding of the Oder front from Cosel to Oppeln (and later up to Grotkau) against strong enemy attacks near the end of January / start of February 1945. He repeatedly saw to it that potentially dangerous Soviet break-ins were swiftly dealt with by counterthrusts (which were most often quite weak). His Armee-Korps achieved great defensive successes northeast of Ratibor, between Grotkau and Neiße, and east of the Zobten river.

139th Award.

Sources

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