1. Walter Heitz was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II.
18 Facts About Walter Heitz
1. 2.
Walter Heitz served as President of the Reich Military Court and commanded part of the 6th Army in the Battle of Stalingrad.
3.
At the age of 60, Walter Heitz took command of the VIII Army Corps and participated in the Invasion of Poland, the Battle of France and Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union.
4.
Walter Heitz continued to command the VIII Army Corps as part of the 6th Army in the Battle of Stalingrad.
5.
Walter Heitz surrendered the central pocket of German forces in Stalingrad on 31 January 1943 and died as a prisoner of war in the Soviet Union.
6.
Walter Heitz remained with his regiment during World War I, where he became a battery commander and battalion commander, and fought in East Prussia, on the Russian Front, and on the Western Front from the fall of 1915 until the end of the war.
7.
Walter Heitz then commanded the 4th Artillery Regiment at Dresden, the Troop Maneuver Area at Jueterbog, and the Artillery School itself.
8.
Walter Heitz eventually became the commander of Fortress Koenigsberg in late 1931 and achieved the rank of Colonel.
9.
On 1 April 1937 Walter Heitz was promoted to General of the Artillery.
10.
At the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Walter Heitz was already 60 years old and would have gone into retirement.
11.
On September 14,1939, during the invasion of Poland Walter Heitz was appointed as the commander of the armed forces in Danzig-West Prussia, partially because of his hatred for the Poles.
12.
On October 25,1939, Walter Heitz was appointed as the commanding general of the VIII Army Corps despite his advanced age.
13.
Walter Heitz led the Corps in the Invasion of France and on 4 September 1940 he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for personally scouting for river crossings and leading his troops across the Oise river under enemy fire.
14.
Walter Heitz continued to command the VIII Army Corps during the German invasion of the Soviet Union Operation Barbarossa.
15.
Walter Heitz later attempted suicide but was stopped by his chief of staff.
16.
On 31 January 1943, Walter Heitz surrendered the central pocket of German forces.
17.
At the time of his surrender, Walter Heitz was the second-highest ranking German officer taken prisoner by the Allies, behind Paulus.
18.
Walter Heitz died on 9 February 1944 while in Soviet captivity.