Helmut Bechler

Helmut Bechler
Born	2 June 1898 Grün
Died	9 January 1971 (aged 72) Kassel
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1920)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1915–20 1934–45
Rank	Generalmajor
Commands held	85. Infanterie-Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Moscow Battles of Rzhev Battle of Kiev (1943) Kamenets-Podolsky pocket Lvov–Sandomierz Offensive Battle of Hürtgen Forest
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Helmut Bechler (2 June 1898 – 9 January 1971) was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 85. Infanterie-Division. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (20 July 1916)
  • 1st Class (21 August 1918)
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black (30 September 1918)
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (5 March 1935)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (14 May 1940)
  • 1st Class (8 June 1940)
• Eastern Front Medal
• Infantry Assault Badge (3 July 1944)
• German Cross in Gold on 19 December 1941 as Major in the I./Infanterie-Regiment 29^[1]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 March 1944 as Oberst and commander of Grenadier-Regiment 504^[2]
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (2 April 1944)

References

Citations

1. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 29.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 107.

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.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945
• Helmut Bechler @ Axis Biographical Research at the Wayback Machine (archived October 28, 2009)