Adolf Abel

Adolf Wilhelm Abel
Adolf Abel
Born	18 October 1914 Gerdt
Died	26 August 1944 (aged 29) near Gura Galbenei, Moldova
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1934–44
Rank	Oberstleutnant
Commands held	Grenadier-Regiment 570
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Second Battle of Kharkov Jassy–Kishinev Offensive (August 1944)
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Adolf Wilhelm Abel (18 October 1914 – 26 August 1944) was a highly decorated Oberstleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Adolf Abel was killed in action in the morning hours on 26 August 1944 roughly 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of Gura Galbenei, Moldova. He himself had attached a concentrated charge on a Russian vehicle and was killed by its explosion.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (25 June 1940)^[1]
  • 1st Class (27 October 1940)^[1]
• Wehrmacht Long Service Award
  • 4th Class
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black (13 August 1941)^[1]
  • in Silver (20 November 1942)^[1]
• Infantry Assault Badge (30 September 1941)^[1]
• Eastern Front Medal (15 April 1942)^[1]
• German Cross in Gold on 13 December 1942 as Hauptmann in the III./Grenadier-Regiment 371^[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 September 1943 as Major and commander of I./Grenadier-Regiment 364^[3][4]

References

Citations

1. Thomas & Wegmann 1987, p. 3.
2. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 10.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 113.
4. Scherzer 2007, p. 187.

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.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Thomas, Franz; Wegmann, Günter (1987). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil III: Infanterie Band 1: A–Be [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part III: Infantry Volume 1: A–Be] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-1153-2.

External links

• "Adolf Abel". World War 2 Awards.com. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
• "Adolf Abel". Lexikon der Wehrmacht (in German). Retrieved 27 October 2013.