Paul Völckers

Paul Völckers
Born	(1891-03-15)15 March 1891 Kiel
Died	Russia
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1910–45
Rank	General der Infanterie
Commands held	78. Infanterie-Division XXVII. Armeekorps
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Moscow Battles of Rzhev Battle of Smolensk (1943) Operation Bagration
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Paul Gustav Völckers (15 March 1891 – 25 January 1946) was a highly decorated General der Infanterie in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the XXVII Armeekorps. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He was captured by Soviet troops in 1944 during Operation Bagration and died in Soviet captivity in 1946.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Eastern Front Medal
• German Cross in Gold (1 April 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 11 December 1942 as Generalleutnant and commander of 78. Infanterie-Division
• Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht on (12 December 1942 and 23 November 1943)

Wehrmachtbericht references

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
Saturday, 12 December 1942	Bei den Kämpfen südwestlich Kalinin zeichnete sich die 78. Infanteriedivision unter Führung des Generalleutnants Völkers und eine Sturmgeschützabteilung besonders aus.	In the battles southwest Kalinin, the 78th Infantry Division under the command of Lieutenant-General Völkers and an Assault Gun Battalion especially distinguished itself.
23 November 1943	Westlich Smolensk haben die unter dem Oberbefehl des Generalobersten Heinrici und unter Führung des General der Infanterie Voelckers stehende schlesische 18. Panzergrenadierdivision, die württembergisch-badische 25. Panzergrenadierdivision, die württembergisch-badische 78. Sturmdivision, die 1. SS-Infanteriebrigade (mot.) und die im Erdkampf eingesetzten Teile der 18. Flakdivision in der siebentägigen 3. Schlacht an der Smolensker Rollbahn einen hervorragenden Abwehrerfolg errungen. 34 Schützendivisionen und 6 Panzerbrigaden der Sowjets rannten hier vergeblich gegen die deutschen Abwehrstellungen an und erlitten dabei beispiellose Verluste an Mensch und Material.	West of Smolensk, under the command of Colonel General Heinrici and under the leadership of General of Infantry Voelcker, the Silesian 18th Panzer Grenadier Division, the Württemberg-Baden 25th Panzer Grenadier Division, the Württemberg-Baden 78th Panzer Assault Division, the 1st SS-Infantry-Brigade (motorized) and those elements of the 18th Flak Division used in ground combat, have achieved an outstanding defensive success in the seven-day 3rd Battle of the Smolensk runway road. 34 rifle divisions and 6 armored brigades of the Soviets ran in vain against the German defenses and thereby suffered unprecedented losses in men and material.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945