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.
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 Kuban Shield 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 (I/Panzergrenadier-Regiment 66) 38th Swords on 3 October 1943 as Major and leader Panzergrenadier-Regiment 66 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht.
