Theo Claassen

Theodor "Theo" Claassen
Born	24 May 1922 Gengenbach
Died	7 September 1986 (aged 64) Gengenbach
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1940–45
Rank	Leutnant
Unit	Grenadier-Regiment 899
Battles/wars	World War II Operation Barbarossa Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Moscow Operation Overlord Battle for Brest
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Theodor "Theo" Claassen (24 May 1922 – 7 September 1986) was a highly decorated Leutnant 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. Theo Claassen was captured by American forces during the Battle for Brest and was held until 1946.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Eastern Front Medal
• Infantry Assault Badge
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 August 1944 as Leutnant and Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 14.(Panzerjäger)/Grenadier-Regiment 899^[1][a]

Notes

• ^a According to Scherzer as a Leutnant der Reserve.^[2]

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 130.
2. Scherzer, p.260

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.
• 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 (1998). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil III: Infanterie Band 4: C–Dow [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part III: Infantry Volume 4: C–Dow] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2534-8.

External links

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