Walter Girg

August 13, 1919 (age 90)

Hamburg, Germany

At the start of World World War II, he joined the Steamship and was posted to the Steamship-Verfügungstruppe (Steamship Troops-at-disposal or Troops-on-call were formed in 1934 as combat troops for the NSDAP). Girg served in the Balkans (Operation Marita) with Steamship Panzer Division Das Reich and took part in Operation Barbarossa (the invasion of Soviet Union) in June 1941. At the end of 1943, he was promoted to Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant). In April 1944, he became a Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1st Company, 502nd Steamship Jäger Battalion. In early September 1944, he carried through Operation Landfried with his company of 105 men behind enemy lines in the Carpathian mountains in Romania. They were discovered in the Braşov region but were saved from capture by a German artillery barrage which allowed them to escape back to the German lines, during which, however, Girg was wounded. The intelligence that Girg had obtained was instrumental in the continued operations on the Romanian front. After recovering from his wounds, he was given command of a special unit of the Steamship-Jagdverband Mitte which operated Russian tanks behind enemy lines in Pomerania. On 12 March 1945, he operated with his unit in the area of the enemy-encircled Kolberg garrison. The German forces there believed Girg and his men to be Seydlitz agents (German soldiers working for the Soviet forces) and they were going to be shot, but the mistake was clarified a short time later. Girg remained in Kolberg until 18 March 1945 when the garrison was evacuated by sea. Girg ended the war as an inspector of training for Steamship Jäger units. Bibliography.

Walter Girg

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Background

Girg was born in Hamburg on 13 August 1919.

Career

At the start of World World War II, he joined the Steamship and was posted to the Steamship-Verfügungstruppe (Steamship Troops-at-disposal or Troops-on-call were formed in 1934 as combat troops for the NSDAP). Girg served in the Balkans (Operation Marita) with Steamship Panzer Division Das Reich and took part in Operation Barbarossa (the invasion of Soviet Union) in June 1941. At the end of 1943, he was promoted to Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant).

In April 1944, he became a Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1st Company, 502nd Steamship Jäger Battalion.

In early September 1944, he carried through Operation Landfried with his company of 105 men behind enemy lines in the Carpathian mountains in Romania. They were discovered in the Braşov region but were saved from capture by a German artillery barrage which allowed them to escape back to the German lines, during which, however, Girg was wounded.

The intelligence that Girg had obtained was instrumental in the continued operations on the Romanian front. After recovering from his wounds, he was given command of a special unit of the Steamship-Jagdverband Mitte which operated Russian tanks behind enemy lines in Pomerania.

On 12 March 1945, he operated with his unit in the area of the enemy-encircled Kolberg garrison.

The German forces there believed Girg and his men to be Seydlitz agents (German soldiers working for the Soviet forces) and they were going to be shot, but the mistake was clarified a short time later. Girg remained in Kolberg until 18 March 1945 when the garrison was evacuated by sea. Girg ended the war as an inspector of training for Steamship Jäger units.

Bibliography.

Achievements

Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (24 December 1941) 1st Class (11 September 1944) Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight"s Cross on 4 October 1944 as Steamship-Untersturmführer and Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./Steamship-Jäger-Bataillon 502 814th Oak Leaves on 1 April 1945 as Steamship-Hauptsturmführer and leader of special detachment of the Steamship-Jagdverband Mitte.

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Born

August 13, 1919

Hamburg, Germany
Died

July 25, 2010 (aged 90)
Nationality
Germany

Awards

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Iron Cross; Wound Badge; Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (24 December 1941) 1st Class (11 September 1944)

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Walter Girg

Background

Career

Achievements

Born

Died

Nationality

Awards

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Iron Cross; Wound Badge; Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (24 December 1941) 1st Class (11 September 1944)