Walter Gericke

Walter Gericke (23 December 1907 – 19 October 1991), was a German Fallschirmjäger during World War II and Generalmajor of the West German Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Gericke participated in the Battle of the Netherlands and the Battle of Crete as a Battalion commander of the Fallschirmjäger. He later commanded the Fallschirjäger-Regiment 11 and fought in the defensive battles at Anzio. He joined the newly formed Bundeswehr after the rearmament of West Germany and as a Generalmajor led the 1. Luftlande-Division from 1962 to 1965.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (10 April 40)
 * 1st Class (12 May 1940)
 * Cuffband "Crete"
 * German Cross in Gold on 12 December 1943 as Major in the II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6
 * Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 14 June 1941 as Hauptmann and commander of the IV./Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment
 * 585th Oak Leaves on 17 September 1944 as Major and commander of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 11
 * Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 10 June 1944