Walter Voigt
| Walter Voigt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nickname | Panzer-Voigt |
| Birth date | 5 August 1914 |
| Place of birth | Naundorf near Eilenburg, Landkreis Delitzsch, Province of Saxony, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire |
| Death date | 14 February 1998 (aged 83) |
| Place of death | Naundorf, Saxony, Federal Republic of Germany |
| Allegiance |  National Socialist Germany
|
| Service/branch |  Reichswehr  Heer
|
| Rank | 2nd Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Iron Cross Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Walter Voigt (5 August 1914 – 14 February 1998) was a German officer of the Wehrmacht, most recently a 2nd lieutenant in the army, tank destroyer and Knight's Cross recipient in the Second World War. The "tank cracker" (Panzerknacker) became known throughout the German Reich under the nickname “Panzer-Voigt”.
Life
After attending school, an apprenticeship in a machine factory and c. two years of occupation, Voigt joined the Reichswehr in 1934 with the Magdeburg motor vehicle battalion (Kraftfahr-Abteilung Magdeburg/13. Infanterie-Division) and, after basic military training, joined the 14th company of the 31st Infantry Regiment, later the the 24th Panzer Hunter (Panzerjäger) Battalion in the 24th Infantry Division.
For a possible liberation of the Sudetenland, explorations were carried out in the border area, but still on German soil. As a result of the Munich Agreement, the units crossed the border on 1 October 1938 with the order to liberate the area around Tachau. There were no combat operations. A few days later, the troops liberated the Marienbad area.
After Czechoslovakia was dissolved, the 24th Infantry Division occupied Prague. On 15 March 1939, it was set off over Komotau, and the first parts reached the city on the same day. The division remained in the Prague area for six weeks and was then moved back to its peacetime garrisons.
In WWII, beginning with the Poland Campaign, later the Battle of France, he served as a NCO (Unteroffizier, then Feldwebel) and was promoted to Oberfeldwebel (Sergeant Major). In April 1941, the regiment was relocated to the Mielce area and prepared for the Operation Barbarossa. His Infanterie-Regiment 31 was renamed Grenadier-Regiment 31 on 25 October 1942. In this unit, Voigt, who was wounded several times, earned the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in October 1944 during the fighting at the Eastern Front. Concurrently, he was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant because of bravery in front of the enemy (war officer; Kr.O.).
Post-WWII
After over four years of Soviet-Bolshevik captivity, Walter Voigt returned to Germany in November 1949 and found work in a machine factory in Eilenburg, Saxony, where he had once completed his training as a youngster. Voigt retired at the age of 68. In the following years he took an active part in community life and always maintained contact with his old comrades from the 31st Infantry Regiment in both German states: Federal Republic of Germany and German Democratic Republic.
Death
Walter Voigt died after a serious illness on 14 February 1998 and was buried on 20 February 1998 in the cemetery in Naundorf next to the graves of his parents.[1]
Awards and decorations
- Wehrmacht Long Service Award (Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung), 4th Class
- Sudetenland Medal
- Iron Cross (1939), 2nd and 1st Class
- Infantry Assault Badge (Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen) in Silver
- Winter Battle in the East 1941–42 Medal on 2 August 1942
- Wound Badge (1939) in Black, Silver and Gold
- Close Combat Clasp in Bronze and Silver
- 22 Tank Destruction Badges (Panzervernichtungsabzeichen)[2]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 16[3] or 25[4] October 1944 as Oberfeldwebel and Platoon Leader in the 14th (Panzerjäger) Company/Grenadier-Regiment 31/24. Infanterie-Division
References
- ↑ Das Ritterkreuz – Mitteilungsblatt der Traditionsgemeinschaft des Eisernen Kreuzes, March 1998
- ↑ According to "Knight's Cross recipient Walter Voigt" (ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.de), Voigt received four gold and two silver tank destruction badges, which would mean a total of 22 kills. This would make Voigt the most successful tank destroyer of the Second World War. However, other sources contradict this and state that he received 5 or 6 such badges in silver.
- ↑ Voigt, Walter (tracesofwar.com)
- ↑ Ritterkreuzträger Walter Voigt
