Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 5th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

March 3rd, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major der Reserve (Major of Reserves)

Unit:

Bataillonskommandeur III. / Grenadier-Regiment 365 / 211. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

August 20th, 1943

Award 426/16.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major der Reserve (Major of Reserves)

Unit:

Battaillonskommandeur III. / Grenadier-Regiment 365 / 211. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

November 15th, 1943

2479th Award.
According to other source the awarding date is 1-12-1943.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major der Reserve (Major of Reserves)

Unit:

Kommandeur I. / Grenadier-Regiment 365 / 211.Infanterie-Division / VIII.Armeekorps / 2.Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte

Awarded on:

September 5th, 1944

Awarded for his actions in Eastern Poland in mid-1944. On the 25.07.1944, the Germans occupied a line near Sycyna and Styrzyniec, south of the road Miedzyrzec—Biala Podlaska. Due to the efforts of Major Schlags-Koch it was possible to hold the position at Biala Podlaska for three days.

3574th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant der Reserve (Lieutenant-colonel of Reserves)

Unit:

Regimentskommandeur Sturm-Regiment AOK 2

Awarded on:

April 14th, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant der Reserve (Lieutenant-colonel of Reserves)

Unit:

Kommandeur Sturm-Regiment AOK 2 / 7.Infanterie-Division / XVIII.Gebirgs-Korps / 2.Armee

Awarded on:

May 9th, 1945

Schlags-Koch’s Oakleaves’ recommendation reads as follows…

“1. Following its formation at the end of 1944, the Sturm-Regiment A.O.K. 2 saw its first action on the 15.01.1945. On this day the Russians succeeded in penetrating through the frontline of the 299. Infanterie-Division west of Mackheim, and a breakthrough wouldn’t be long in coming unless a counterattack could prevent it.

The Armee subordinated the Sturm-Regiment to the 299. Infanterie-Division for this purpose. Oberstleutnant Schlags-Koch was briefed on the situation at the forward divisional command post, and since time was of the essence he ordered his men to attack from the march. This attack caught the advancing Bolsheviks in their open flank. Much hard fighting followed, and the enemy fought bitterly in the forest south of Romanowo that they’d recently captured. However, in no small part due to Oberstleutnant Schlags-Koch’s active participation and inspirational leadership on the battlefield, the enemy was thrown back and a breakthrough prevented.

2. On the 17.01.1945, as per orders from the 299. Infanterie-Division, the Sturm-Regiment withdrew to the area east of Zilona alongside the Division’s own elements. There a new battle position was occupied.

During the morning hours of this same day the enemy penetrated into the sector of the right neighbouring regiment with over 30 tanks. Soon they had made it to the Sturm-Regiment’s command post itself, located in Zilona. Those friendly infantry that fled before the enemy were rallied by Oberstleutnant Schlags-Koch, and he deployed them for the defense of the village. After a short regrouping the enemy attacked the village with infantry and tanks, and a few tanks managed to enter into the village itself. However, after 4 were destroyed by Panzerfausts and Sturmgeschütze, the remainder pulled back. The Bolsheviks then tried to take the village with their infantry. Yet this attack also broke down in the face of the skill of the handful of defenders as well as the extraordinarily brave conduct of the regimental commander himself. He personally participated in the combat with a sniper rifle and served as an ever-present model of bravery for his troops.

Oberstleutnant Schlags-Koch, his staff and the handful of friendly infantry held onto the village for 4 hours against an overwhelming enemy, paying no heed to the fact that the enemy had already bypassed the village on both the left and right to a considerable depth. The village was only evacuated after the Division had ordered its garrison to pull back to a new line.

The brave perseverance of Oberstleutnant Schlags-Koch at this village was an invaluable factor that enabled the friendly heavy weapons to change position and redeploy without undue enemy pressure. It likewise gave the Division the opportunity to establish a new defensive front with the stragglers that it had gathered up.

3. On the 18.01.1945 the Regiment received orders to gather up its elements that had been scattered during a flank attack against the Praschnitz—Grudusk road. These elements were to assemble in Kuklin on the following day.

Here elements of the Division Großdeutschland and the 18. Panzergrenadier-Division were engaged in bitter defensive combat against overwhelming enemy infantry and tank forces. Although the remaining elements of his Regiment would not arrive for some time, Oberstleutnant Schlags-Koch immediately made himself and his men available for the local Kommandant, Oberst Schörne. The Regiment received the mission of closing a frontline gap west of Unischki. However, before this order could even be passed down to the Bataillon commanders, the Russians launched a surprise attack against Kuklin from the east with about 30 tanks and mounted infantry.

Oberstleutnant Schlags-Koch immediately recognized the enemy intentions. Their plan was to seize the road near Kuklin in order to cut off the retreat route of those friendly forces located in Unischki. Oberstleutnant Schlags-Koch launched a deliberate counterattack on his own initiative with the elements of his Regiment that were present, and with the support of friendly Panzers and artillery it was possible to thwart the enemy attack. The troops occupied Kuklin’s outer defensive trenches and defended them for the whole day against all Russian attacks.

However, at almost the exact same time, the enemy achieved a penetration in the sector of the 18. Panzergrenadier-Division (Oberst Schörne) and the Division Großdeutschland (Major Fabig). Oberst Schörne had just enough time to telephone Oberstleutnant Schlags-Koch and order him to form a hedgehog position at Kuklin. He and his Sturm-Regiment were to hold the village under any circumstances. Telephone contact was then lost.

As per his directive, Oberstleutnant Schlags-Koch had his attached units prepared the village for all-round defense. It was barely an hour later when the defenders of Kuklin were put to the test. The enemy had placed such strong pressure on the two friendly Divisionen that they were forced to retreat westwards instead of similarly holding their ground in an all-round defense. Now the full force of the enemy, tanks and infantry alike, crashed upon the Kuklin garrison. Bypassing it on the left and right, the enemy soon closed the ring. The Regiment’s Sturm-Batterie was in position in the immediate vicinity of the command post, and it forced the bypassing enemy to maintain a respectful distance. However a new message then stated that 50 additional enemy tanks were confirmed to be in the village east of Kuklin. After reconnaissance patrols confirmed that all elements of the Division Großdeutschland and 18. Panzergrenadier-Division had pulled out of Unischki, Oberstleutnant Schlags-Koch gave the order to prepare for a breakout in the direction of Neidenburg.

The commander himself drove just behind the Panzers and Sturmgeschützen in his own Schwimmwagen, and he personally directed the necessary measures for the breakout from Kuklin. The initial enemy resistance was ruthlessly crushed, and the road was opened up for the follow-up elements (including the vehicles for the wounded). Later, as enemy resistance proved to be rather strong before the village of Wetzhausen, Oberstleutnant Schlags-Koch decided to bypass Wetzhausen to the northwest. Although enemy troops were also encountered here, the breakthrough nonetheless succeeded with all wounded, artillery and vehicles being brought to safety.

4. Sturm-Regiment A.O.K. 2 was deployed in Elbing on the 23.01.1945. Here Oberstleutnant Schlags-Koch received control over friendly forces in the western and northern parts of the city.

Oberstleutnant Schlags-Koch immediately began to organize the defense with prudence and energy. He forged his subordinated Alarm units into a force prepared for the worst the enemy could throw at them. These measures, as well as the commander’s tireless devotion to duty, were invaluable factors that enabled the city to hold for over 2 weeks against a far superior enemy. Oberstleutnant Schlags-Koch was the soul of resistance in this sector, and could always be found with a weapon in hand at the hotspots of the fighting.

On the 27.01.1945, following a heavy artillery barrage, the enemy succeeded in achieving a major breach with overwhelming force. They thrust forward and were able to reach both of the Elbing bridges, the sole communication routes between the eastern and western parts of the city. In response Oberstleutnant Schlags-Koch launched a counterattack on his own initiative with his entire staff. The enemy was thrown back beyond their jump-off position and as far as the western edge of the city itself. In the process they sustained very heavy losses in exchange for only minimal friendly casualties.

On the 09.02.1945 the Kommandant of Elbing gave orders to break out of the encirclement ring around the city in a northwesterly direction. While much of the garrison prepared for this operation, the men of the Sturm-Regiment and their tireless commander were engaged in fierce defensive combat against powerful enemy formations. The strongpoint-like command post was held onto successfully until the Russians entered into the building itself from one side. Only then did Oberstleutnant Schlags-Koch give the order to pull back to the next adjacent group of houses. In this way the enemy only proceeded forwards at a slow pace and with high losses. Their forward spearheads were repeatedly pushed back through courageous counterattacks. Thanks to the outstanding, prudent and inspirational leadership of Oberstleutnant Schlags-Koch it was possible to evacuate not only the fighting men from the city, but also (and above all) the wounded.

However, when the enemy identified our forces’ intent, they once again closed the ring by concentrating all their available men and weapons. This meant that the Sturm-Regiment’s small rearguard was unable to effect a breakout in this direction. Oberstleutnant Schlags-Koch thus decided to break out to the east before pivoting back to the west and towards friendly lines.

After regrouping his men he stormed against the enemy at the head of the first assault group. His men became imbued with his own ruthless energy, and it was not long before 3 fortified enemy strongpoints were crushed along with the men that defended them. After a further hour of heavy fighting the enemy ring around the entire rearguard was broken through.

Oberstleutnant Schlags-Koch and his men then trekked through enemy territory for a total of 5 days before thrusting over the lagoon on the 14.02.1945 and making contact with friendly forces in Kahlberg.

Oberstleutnant Schlags-Koch combines the outstanding qualities of prudent leadership, exemplary fighting spirit and frequently demonstrated bravery. He is therefore particularly worthy of being decorated with the Oakleaves to the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross.”


The Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) received Walter Schlags-Koch's nomination via wireless communication on 6-4-1945. Major Joachim Domaschk requested via wireless communication the advisory opinion of the 2. Armee. Presumably this statement was not received yet on 28 April because Domaschk decided to postpone the decision and ordered the re-presentation for 8 May, which was never processed. The entry date for the wireless nomination of 6-4-1945 is noted on the nomination list of the higher grade of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. However no other date is listed, the section comments states "unprocessed". The Order Commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (OdR) processed this case in 1973 and decided: "877 Oak Leaves". Scherzer claims that this decision was not approved by Gerhard von Seemann—author of various publications regarding the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross—since Schlags-Koch is not listed as an Oak Leaves recipient in his book Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 (2nd edition from 1976). The presentation number was later changed by Walther-Peer Fellgiebel to "876". However, Schlags-Koch is listed by Von Seemen as the 876th Oak Leaves recipient. The presentation date was assigned by Fellgiebel. Schlags-Koch was a member of the OdR.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

April 16th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

March 19th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 21st, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

April 7th, 1944