Moritz von Drebber

Moritz Otto von Drebber
Born	12 February 1892 Oldenburg
Died	30 May 1968 (aged 76) Oldenburg
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1920)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1911–20 1935–45
Rank	Generalmajor
Commands held	297. Infanterie-Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa First Battle of Kharkov Battle of the Caucasus Battle of Stalingrad
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Other work	NKFD

Moritz Otto Wilhelm Heinrich von Drebber (12 February 1892 – 30 May 1968) was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 297. 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.

Moritz von Drebber surrendered his 297th Infantry Division on 25 January 1943 during the Battle of Stalingrad. He then sent a letter to Friedrich Paulus stating "he and his soldiers were well received by the Red army." Drebber also asked Paulus to "give up the useless resistance and to surrender with the whole army." ^[1]

He joined the National Committee for a Free Germany while in captivity. He was released in 1949.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (3 November 1939)
  • 1st Class (19 June 1940)
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Silver
• Infantry Assault Badge (2 March 1942)
• Eastern Front Medal
• German Cross in Gold (26 December 1941)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 June 1942 as Oberst and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 523^[2]

References

Citations

1. Adam, Wilhelm; Ruhle, Otto (2015). With Paulus at Stalingrad. Translated by Tony Le Tissier. Pen and Sword Books Ltd. p. 198. ISBN 9781473833869.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 139.

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 (2000). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil III: Infanterie Band 5: Dr–Em [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part III: Infantry Volume 5: Dr–Em] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2575-1.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht