Walter Gorn (24 September 1898 – 10 July 1968) was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II who commanded several divisions.

During the World War I, he enlisted the German Army and was assigned as Kriegsfreiwilliger (roughly equivalent to Private) to West Prussian Grenadier-Regiment „König Wilhelm I.“ Nr.

[2][3] After a brief period with that unit, Gorn was transferred to 1st Heavy Machine Gun company of 36th Landwehr-Assault-Infantry Regiment stationed in his native Posen.

While in this capacity, he completed several physical trainings and was selected for Police-Officer-Aspirant Course at the higher police school in Eiche near Potsdam in September 1925.

[2][3] Gorn completed all his instructions in April 1931 and served as Traffic-Officer in Breslau for three years, before assumed duty as Motor-Transport-Officer with the Police Department in Iserlohn, Westphalia in October 1934.

[2][3] Following the Adolf Hitler's rise to power and creation of Wehrmacht in mid-1935, Gorn's unit was incorporated into the Army and he assumed command of 5th Company of the 3rd Motorcycle-Rifle-Battalion under Obertsleutnant Günther von Manteuffel in Bad Freienwalde.

Army Motorised Corps under famous General Heinz Guderian and served as Commandant of the Staff-Quarters during the Invasion of Poland, receiving Clasp to the Iron Cross 2nd Class.

His orders were to establish contact with Italian troops in the city of Gostivar and his mixed unit overran a strong hostile resistance line and crushed seven enemy batteries.

[2][1][3] Gorn led his battalion during the German invasion of the Soviet Union in July 1941 and took part in combats at Uman and Kiev, Ukraine.

Gorn and his unit repelled a number of strong soviets attacks during the fighting in Voronezh, but suffered heavy casualties leaving only 55 men combat effective by the end of August.

[2][4][1][3] In March 1943, Gorn was promoted to Oberst (Colonel) and ordered back to Germany, where he attended the tactical course at the Panzer Troops School in Wünsdorf near Berlin.

[2][3] He was subsequently ordered to Sensburg in East Prussia, where he was tasked with the activation of 561st Grenadier Division as new unit of 29th Aufstellungswelle (Draft Wave).

Gorn spent total of six weeks in hospital and assumed command of 710th Infantry Division, which was stationed in Austria after heavy fighting in Hungary in mid-April.