Crete 1941 - Postwar article by Captain Gericke

harry palmer · Post by **harry palmer** » 20 Sep 2007 19:56

ASSAULT FROM THE AIR
CRETE 1941
Hauptmann Walter Gericke, CO IV./Fsch.Jäg.Sturm-Rgt
Malemes Airfield

First published March 1965

Please see http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=121535 for background.

harry palmer · Post by **harry palmer** » 20 Sep 2007 19:57

harry palmer · Post by **harry palmer** » 20 Sep 2007 19:59

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harry palmer · Post by **harry palmer** » 20 Sep 2007 20:25

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 22 Sep 2007 14:55

Thanks Harry

A bit on Gericke here:

http://www.feldgrau.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=93409

Walter Gericke was a Fallshirmjäger officer who fought with success on several fronts during the entire war. Here are some short examples:

Took part in the invasion of Denmarkon April 9, 1940, as CO of the 4th Coy I./Fsch.Jäg.Rgt 1 and seized the long Stoerstrom bridge between Falster and Seeland.

Took part in Operation Merkur, the airborn assault on Crete on may 20, 1941, as Hauptmann and CO of IV./Fsch.Jäg.Sturm-Rgt in the attack on Maleme. Recieved the Knight's Cross on June 14 1941 for that action.

In 1943 Major Gericke commanded II./Fsch.Jäg.Rgt. 6 of the 2. Fallshirmjäger-Division in Italy when that country capitulated in september. Gericke was ordered to jump over Monte Rotondo outside of Rome were the Italian Army HQ was placed. After some short combat the italians surrended and as a result, all italian attempts to hostile action againts german troops in Italy ceased.

In 1944 Gericke commanded Fsch.Jäg.Rgt 11 of the 4. Fallschirmjäger-Division in Italy and saw heavy action when the Allies landed at Anzio. Major Gericke recieved the Oakleaves to his Knight's Cross on September 17 1944.

During the closing months of the war, Oberst Gericke commanded the 11. Fallshirmjäger-Division, a division that never reached full strength. They saw combat in the Netherlands and in North-west Germany in the Spring of 1945 before surrendering to the British on May 8, 1945.

From: http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de/

phylo_roadking · Post by **phylo_roadking** » 24 Sep 2007 18:04

MacDonald sources from this in several places in "The Lost Battle"