Background
Von Gazen was born on 6 December 1917 in Hamburg, a state of the German Empire. He was the son of the Oberst a.D. (Colonel retired. AD—außer Dienst) Oskar von Gazen.
Von Gazen was born on 6 December 1917 in Hamburg, a state of the German Empire. He was the son of the Oberst a.D. (Colonel retired. AD—außer Dienst) Oskar von Gazen.
Following his graduation with the Abitur from the Gymnasium, a secondary school with a strong emphasis on academic learning, in Bergedorf, he completed his compulsory Reichsarbeitsdienst (Reich Labor Service).
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. He joined the military service in the Wehrmacht with Infanterie-Regiment 66 (66th Infantry Regiment) near Magdeburg as a Fahnenjunker (Cadet) in 1936. Infanterie-Regiment 66 was subordinated to the 13th Infantry Division which later reorganized into the 13th Panzer Division.
He was promoted to Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant) on 1 September 1938.
In the Invasion of Poland and the Battle of France, he served as a Zugführer (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. 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.
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.
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 Iowa (operations officer) of the 13.
Panzer-Division stationed in Hungary in early September 1944. He was transferred again and appointed Iowa 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. Panzer-Division (I) Wehrmachtbericht reference Bibliography.