Heinz Wittchow von Brese-Winiary

Heinz Wittchow von Brese-Winiary
Born	13 January 1914 Dresden
Died	3 December 1995 (aged 81) Freiburg im Breisgau
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1934–45
Rank	Oberst
Commands held	Panzer-Füsilier-Regiments "Großdeutschland"
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Brody (1941) Battle of Rostov (1941) Second Battle of Kharkov Battle of the Caucasus Battle of Stalingrad Lower Dnieper Offensive Cherkassy Pocket Battle of Memel East Prussian Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Heinz Wittchow von Brese-Winiary (13 January 1914 – 3 December 1995) was a highly decorated Oberst in the Wehrmacht during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Heinz Wittchow von Brese-Winiary was captured by Soviet troops in February 1945 and was held until 1953.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (24 October 1939)^[1]
  • 1st Class (24 June 1940)^[1]
• Wound Badge
  • in Black
  • in Silver
  • in Gold
• Eastern Front Medal
• Infantry Assault Badge
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze
• German Cross in Gold on 24 November 1941 as Oberleutnant in the 6./Schützen-Regiment 108^[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 15 May 1943 as Hauptmann and commander of I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 108^[3]
  • 441st Oak Leaves on 6 April 1944 as Oberst and commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 108^[4]

References

Citations

1. Thomas 1998, p. 451.
2. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 518.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 364.
4. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 69.

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 (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945
• World War 2 Awards.com