Waldemar von Gazen

Waldemar von Gazen called Waldemar von Gaza (born 6 December 1917) was an Officer in the German Wehrmacht and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords during World War II. 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
Waldemar von Gazen joined the military service with Infanterie-Regiment 66 (66th Infantry Regiment) as a Fahnenjunker (Cadet) in 1936. He was promoted to Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant) on 1 September 1938 and participated in the Invasion of Poland and the Battle of France as a platoon leader (Zugführer). He was promoted to Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant) on 1 September 1940. He was tasked with the leadership of the 2nd company of Schützen-Regiment 66 on the Eastern Front.

Von Gazen was promoted to Hauptmann (Captain) and received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 18 September 1942 for his achievements in summer of 1942 and the assault on Rostov. Shortly afterwards he was made leader of the I. Bataillon (1st Battalion) of the regiment. In early 1943 he distinguished himself again in combat as the leader of a Kampfgruppe (combat formation) in the Kuban bridgehead. For these actions he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) on 18 January 1943.

Von Gazen was made leader of Schützen-Regiment 66 in April 1943 and was officially commander of the regiment on 28 August 1943. His regiment succeeded in holding the German lines in the vicinity of Melitopol against numerous attacks by the Red Army at the end of September 1943. Von Gazen was severely wounded in these battles. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern) on 3 October 1943 for the achievements of his regiment.

After a period of convalescence he was transferred to the Generalstab des Heeres (General staff of the Army) on 1 July 1944. Here he received a general staff traineeship. He was appointed Ia (operations officer) of the 13. Panzer-Division stationed in Hungary in early September 1944. He was transferred again and appointed Ia of the 2. Panzer-Division in February 1945. Von Gazen was taken prisoner of war at the end of hostilities in Europe and released in 1946.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (29 September 1939)
 * 1st Class (14 October 1939)
 * Panzer Badge in Bronze (3rd Class)
 * Wound Badge in Silver
 * Tank Destruction Badge
 * German Cross in Gold on 15 November 1941 as Oberleutnant in the 2./Schützen-Regiment 66
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
 * Knight's Cross on 18 September 1942 as Oberleutnant and chief of the 2./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 66
 * 182nd Oak Leaves on 18 January 1943 as Hauptmann and leader of a Kampfgruppe of the 13. Panzer-Division
 * 38th Swords on 3 October 1943 as Major and leader Panzergrenadier-Regiment 66
 * Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht