Walter Ohmsen

Walter Ohmsen
Walter Ohmsen on 14 June 1944
Born	7 June 1911 Elmshorn
Died	19 February 1988(1988-02-19) (aged 76) Kiel
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany (to 1945)  West Germany
Service / branch	Reichsmarine  Kriegsmarine  German Navy
Years of service	1929–45 1956–67
Rank	Oberleutnant (M.A.) (Wehrmacht) Fregattenkapitän (Bundeswehr)
Unit	battleship Schleswig-Holstein Gorch Fock cruiser Königsberg
Commands	Crisbecq Battery
Battles / wars	World War II Normandy landings Battle of Cherbourg
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Federal Cross of Merit 2nd Class
Other work	government employee

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.