Walter Scheller

Walter Scheller (27 January 1892 – 21 July 1944) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II, who commanded several divisions. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Scheller was killed at Brest-Litovsk on 21 July 1944, during the Lublin–Brest Offensive.

Walter Scheller
Born27 January 1892
Hannover, German Empire
Died21 July 1944(1944-07-21) (aged 52)
Brest, Soviet Union
Allegiance German Empire
 Weimar Republic
 Nazi Germany
Service/branchArmy (Wehrmacht)
Years of service1914–44
RankGeneralleutnant
Commands held11th Panzer Division
9th Panzer Division
334th Infantry Division
337th Infantry Division
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

World War II

Oberst Walter Scheller served in the capacity of Chief of Staff of Wehrkreis X in Hamburg at the start of World War II,[1] a position he took up on 26 August 1939, and would keep until 26 May 1940. He then took command of 8th Rifle Brigade under 8th Panzer Division,[1] which he led into action during the Battle of France. Scheller took the same command into the Invasion of Yugoslavia in Spring 1941, and led the unit into Operation Barbarossa,[2] still under 8th Panzer Division, as part of Army Group North. On 1 October 1941 Walter Scheller was promoted to Generalmajor.

On 20 October 1941 Scheller took command of 11. Panzer-Division until 16 May 1942,[1] when he was called into the reserve (Führerreserve). He led this unit into the Battle of Moscow, and spent the winter in defensive positions on the Yukhnov - Gshatsk (today called Gagarin) axis west and southwest of Moscow. From 22 March to 18 April 1942 the 11. Panzer-Division fought in the Rzhev–Vyazma Strategic Offensive Operation, part of the Battles of Rzhev, and was involved in key operations between Vyazma and Yartsevo until Scheller was recalled.

On 28 July 1942, Scheller took command of the 9. Panzer-Division,[3] and on 4 August 1942, the division was ordered from the Voronezh-Zemlyansk area northwest past Oryol to participate in an attack on Sukhinichi, and was involved in heavy fighting around Zhizdra, where the unit was pushed back across the Zhizdra River. From 9 September the division was pulled into reserve under 9th Army in the Gshatsk area, and found itself in the Sychyovka area by 29 September 1942, facing Soviet forces during the First Rzhev–Sychyovka Offensive Operation.

In November and December 1942 Scheller and his unit were located on the Vazuza River between Rzhev and Vyazma. On 1 January 1943 Scheller was promoted to Generalleutnant, and on 4 February 1943 he was awarded the German Cross in Gold. At the end of February and in March, the 9. Panzer-Division was involved in heavy defensive fighting back in the Zhizdra area, and was then moved south of Oryol in preparation for the Battle of Kursk.[4] On 3 April 1943 Scheller was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Scheller, who had been decorated with the Knight's Cross for superb leadership, demonstrated rare courage, this time not in the face of the enemy, but his superiors. The general who had been a soldier since he was nineteen years old, knew when he must not obey. [5] On the 21 July, Model relieved Lieutenant General Walter Scheller, veteran commander of 9th Panzer Division, for refusing to make a suicidal counterattack against Bagramian's eastern flank west near Krasnikov.[6] On 20 October 1943, Scheller took command of 334th Infantry Division,[1] which he led until 27 November 1943. He joined his new command in Genoa, Italy, under Army Group B. On 27 November 1943 he took command of 337th Infantry Division[1] under 4th Army in the Orsha-Gorky area in Belarus. He commanded this division until 1 February 1944.

On 7 March 1944, Generalleutnant Walter Scheller was given command of the city of Brest-Litovsk. On 22 July 1944, he fell in the fighting for the city during the Lublin–Brest Offensive.[1]

Awards and decorations

References

Citations
  1. Mitcham, Samuel W. (2006). The Panzer Legions: A Guide to the German Army Tank Divisions of World War II and Their Commanders. Stackpole Books. p. 98. ISBN 9780811733533.
  2. Battistelli, Pier Paolo (2013). Panzer Divisions: The Eastern Front 1941-43. Osprey Publishing. p. 83. ISBN 9781472800022.
  3. Glantz, David M.; House, Jonathan (2009). To the Gates of Stalingrad: Soviet-German Combat Operations, April-August 1942. Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas. p. 26. ISBN 9780700616305.
  4. Forczyk, Robert (2014). Kursk 1943: The Northern Front. Osprey Publishing. p. 32. ISBN 9781782008194.
  5. <Operation Citadel pg 251, Janusz Piekalkiewicz Presido Press CA 1987>
  6. <The Battle of Kursk pg 237, Glantz and House University Press Kansas 1999>
  7. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 305.

Bibliography
  • Battistelli, Pier Paolo (2013). Panzer Divisions: The Eastern Front 1941-43. Osprey Publishing. p. 83. ISBN 9781472800022.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Forczyk, Robert (2014). Kursk 1943: The Northern Front. Osprey Publishing. p. 32. ISBN 9781782008194.
  • Glantz, David M.; House, Jonathan (2009). To the Gates of Stalingrad: Soviet-German Combat Operations, April-August 1942. Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas. ISBN 9780700616305.
  • Mitcham, Samuel W. (2006). The Panzer Legions: A Guide to the German Army Tank Divisions of World War II and Their Commanders. Stackpole Books. p. 98. ISBN 9780811733533.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
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