Walter Weiß

General Walter-Otto Weiß, also spelt Weiss (5 September 1890 – 21 December 1967), was a German general during World War II. In 1945 he became commander in chief of Army Group North on the Eastern Front. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

Career

Weiss was born in Tilsit, East Prussia and joined the Army on 19 March 1908. At the beginning of the Second World War, during the Polish Campaign, he was given command of I. Army Corps, holding the position chief of the general staff on 1 September. On 15 December 1940 he took command of the 97th Light Division, and on 15 January 1941 command of the 26th Infantry Division. This Division was subordinated to Army Group Centre and participated in Operation Barbarossa. Weiss took command of the XXVII Army Corps on 1 July 1942. Weiss led the 2nd Army on the Eastern Front from 3 February 1943 on. He received command of Army Group North on 12 March 1945 with which he surrendered to the American forces.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class (9 September 1914) & 1st Class (15 December 1915)
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (19 September 1939) & 1st Class (2 October 1939)
• German Cross in Gold on 19 February 1943 as General der Infanterie and commanding general of the XXVII. Armeekorps
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 12 September 1941 as Generalmajor and commander of the 26.Infanterie-Division
  • Oak Leaves on 5 November 1944 as Generaloberst and Commander-in-Chief of the 2. Armee