Kurt Bodendörfer

Kurt Bodendörfer
Born	31 March 1914 Lohr
Died	7 December 1991 (aged 77) Würzburg
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1935–45
Rank	Oberstleutnant
Unit	246th Volksgrenadier Division
Commands held	Grenadier-Regiment 689
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Invasion of Yugoslavia Operation Barbarossa Crimean Campaign (1941–1942) Siege of Sevastopol (1941–1942) Battle of the Caucasus Battle of the Bulge
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Kurt Bodendörfer (31 March 1914 – 7 December 1991) 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. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Awards and decorations

• Wehrmacht Long Service Award (1 April 1939)^[1]
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (17 October 1939)^[1]
  • 1st Class (31 July 1940)^[1]
• Infantry Assault Badge (10 December 1940)^[1]
• Order of the Star of Romania with Swords on Ribbon 4th Class (20 August 1941)^[1]
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black (6 February 1942)^[1]
  • in Silver (15 August 1942)^[1]
  • in Gold (19 July 1943)^[1]
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze (8 November 1943)^[1]
• Eastern Front Medal (12 August 1942)^[1]
• Crimea Shield (5 October 1942)^[1]
• German Cross in Gold (1 December 1941)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 February 1945 as Major and leader of Grenadier-Regiment 689^[2][3]

References

Citations

1. Thomas & Wegmann 1992, p. 156.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 116.
3. Scherzer 2007, p. 228.

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 (1992). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil III: Infanterie Band 2: Bi–Bo [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part III: Infantry Volume 2: Bi–Bo] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-1734-3.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945