Fallschirmjager Hauptmann (Paratroop Captain) Walter Gericke (smoking) was originally a policeman who transferred to the Luftwaffe and became one of the first battalion commanders of the Parachute Division.He fought in the Battle of Crete (1941) and won the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross.He also fought in Italy and by the war’s end was a lt colonel. Postwar, he was POW of the British.He returned to service in the 50s and commanded 1.Airborne Division 1962-65.He retired a major general.
