Gerhard Matzky

Gerhard Matzky
Born	19 March 1894 Küstrin, Prussia
Died	9 June 1983(1983-06-09) (aged 89) Bad Godesberg, Germany
Allegiance	German Empire Weimar Republic Nazi Germany West Germany
Branch	Imperial German Army Reichswehr German Army (Wehrmacht) Bundeswehr
Service years	1912–1945 1956–1960
Rank	General der Infanterie Generalleutnant
Commands	21st Infantry Division XXVIII Army Corps XXVI Army Corps
Conflicts	World War I World War II Siege of Leningrad East Prussian Offensive Zemland Offensive
Awards	Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Other work	Bundeswehr Chairman of the Association of German soldiers

Gerhard Matzky (19 March 1894 – 9 June 1983) was a German general during World War II who commanded several corps. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Matzky joined the Bundeswehr in 1956 and served until 1960.

Matzky was born in 1894 and entered the Royal Prussian Army in 1912. He fought in World War I and was an Oberleutnant in Infantry Regiment 63 at the end of the war. He remained in the Reichswehr as a career officer. As an Oberst, he was the German military attaché to Japan from 1938 to 1940. He was posted to the staff of OKH until January 1943, when he became commander of the 21st Infantry Division. He next led the XXVIII Army Corps in March 1944 and the XXVI Army Corps from July 1944 until Germany's surrender in May 1945.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross of 1914 2nd Class & 1st Class (1915)
• Hanseatic Cross of Hamburg
• Cross for Merit in War of Saxe-Meningen
• Wound Badge in silver
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Iron Cross of 1939 2nd Class & 1st Class
• War Merit Cross, 1st and 2nd class with swords
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 April 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of 21. Infanterie-Division
• Grand Merit Cross with Star of the Federal Republic of Germany (April 1967); previously Cross of Merit (1960)

References

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Webb, James Jack (2024). Generals and Admirals of the Third Reich: For Country or Fuehrer. Vol. 2: H–O. Havertown, PA: Casemate Publishers. ISBN 978-1-952-71517-4.