Erich Walther

Erich Walther (5 August 1903 – 26 December 1947) was a German general of the Fallschirmjäger who served during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Military career
Erich Walther joined the Berlin Police on 1 April 1924 as a police cadet. In 1933 he transferred to the Wecke State Police group (Polizeiabteilung z.b.V. Wecke) as a Leutnant and on 1 October 1935 became commander of the 3rd Company, General Göring Regiment. In May of that year he completed the parachute course and was subsequently promoted to Hauptmann.

In the Battle of the Netherlands Walther and his I Battalion, 1st Parachute Regiment parachuted into the Netherlands near Dordrecht. From 27 May 1940 Walther participated in the Norwegian Campaign in support of the 3rd Mountain Infantry Division. General Eduard Dietl personally thanked Walther for his decisive contribution to victory in Norway. On 19 June 1940 he was promoted to Major.

In the Battle of Crete Walther fought alongside III Battalion, 1st Parachute Regiment led by Karl-Lothar Schulz in the area of Heraklion and on 29 May marched into the city leading his paratroopers.

Walther fought on the Eastern front in Russia in the defensive battle near Leningrad and was awarded the German Cross in Gold for his actions there. On 20 April 1942 Walther was promoted to Oberst and in September appointed commanding officer of the 4th Parachute Regiment.

On the island of Sicily Walther and his paratroopers fought in a defensive role at and north of Simeto Bridge. In the Battle of Monte Cassino his regiment defended the fought over hills.

Walther saw action in the west as commander of the Divisional Battle Group Walther. At Nijmegen and Arnhem during the Allied Operation Market Garden he successfully defended against the airborne landings. Walther subsequently assumed command of the Hermann Göring 2nd Parachute Panzer-Grenadier Division in East Prussia. Promoted to Generalmajor on 30 January 1945 he was taken prisoner of war by the Red Army on 8 May 1945. He died at Soviet Special Camp 2 on 26 December 1947.

Awards

 * Wound Badge in Black
 * "Crete" Cuffband
 * Narvik Shield
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (18 April 1940)
 * 1st Class (26 April 1940)
 * German Cross in Gold on 31 March 1942 as Major in the I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
 * Knight's Cross on 24 May 1940 as Major and commander of the I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1
 * 411th Oak Leaves on 2 March 1944 as Oberst and commander of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 4
 * 131st Swords on 1 February 1945 as Oberst and leader of Fallschirm-Panzergrenadier-Division 2 "Hermann Göring"