Heinrich Gaedcke

Ludwig Heinrich Gaedcke
Born	16 January 1905 Guben
Died	Waldesch
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1924–45 1956–65
Rank	Generalmajor (Wehrmacht) Generalleutnant (Bundeswehr)
Commands held	11. Panzergrenadier-Division III. Corps
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Uman Battle of Kiev (1941) Battle of Moscow Cherkassy Pocket Jassy–Kishinev Offensive (August 1944) Operation Frühlingserwachen Vienna Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Ludwig Heinrich Gaedcke (16 January 1905 – 21 December 1992) was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II and a Generalleutnant in the Bundeswehr. 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. Heinrich Gaedcke was captured by American forces in May 1945 and was held until 1947.

He commanded the new Bundeswehr's 11th Panzergrenadier Division from 1959 to 1960.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Eastern Front Medal
• German Cross in Gold on 7 March 1942 as Major im Generalstab in the 25. Infanterie-Division (motorized)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 7 April 1944 as Oberst im Generalstab and Chief of the Generalstab of XI. Armeekorps

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Heinrich Gaedcke @ Axis Biographical Research at the Wayback Machine (archived October 28, 2009)

Military offices
Preceded by Oberst i.G. Hellmuth Schultze	Chief of the Generalstab XI. Armeekorps 7 December 1943 – 25 February 1944	Succeeded by Oberst i.G. Hellmuth Schultze
Preceded by Generalmajor Helmuth Voelter	Chief of the Generalstab 6. Armee 15 August 1944 – 8 May 1945	Succeeded by None
Preceded by None	Commander of 11. Panzergrenadier-Division (Bundeswehr) 1 November 1959 – 31 December 1960	Succeeded by Generalmajor Cord von Hobe
Preceded by Generalleutnant Smilo Freiherr von Lüttwitz	Commander of III. Corps (Bundeswehr) 1 January 1961 – 31 March 1965	Succeeded by Generalleutnant Albert Schnez