Walter Ohmsen Military person

Walter Ohmsen (7 June 1911 – 19 February 1988) was a highly decorated Oberleutnant zur See in the Kriegsmarine during World War II. On 6 June 1944 the Western Allies launched Operation Overlord, the amphibious invasion of Normandy, France. Ohmsen was the first German defender of Fortress Europe to sight the invasion force. His battery engaged in heavy fighting and subsequently Ohmsen was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) for the defense of the Crisbecq Battery against the American 4th Infantry Division, which landed on Utah Beach. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recognised extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Personal facts

Birth date	June 07, 1911
Birth place	Elmshorn
Date of death	February 19, 1988
Place of death	Kiel

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Military person

allegiance	(to 1933) (to 1945)
award	Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
military operations	World War II Normandy landings Battle of Cherbourg
military command	Crisbecq Battery
military unit	Gorch Fock (1933) SMS Schleswig-Holstein German cruiser Königsberg
service start	1929
service end	1929