Theodor Kretschmer

Theodor Kretschmer
Born	26 November 1901 Burghaun
Died	5 December 1986 (aged 85) Schlitz
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1919–45
Rank	Generalmajor
Commands held	16. Panzer-Division 17. Panzer-Division
Battles/wars	World War II Annexation of Austria Annexation of the Sudetenland Battle of France Battle of the Caucasus Vistula–Oder Offensive Lower Silesian Offensive Upper Silesian Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Theodor Kretschmer (26 November 1901 – 5 December 1986) was a highly decorated Generalmajor 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.

Biography

Kretschmer joined the German Army in 1919 and was commissioned in 1924. After a number of staff positions he briefly became commander of the 16. Panzer-Division in late 1944 before taking over as the commander of the 17. Panzer-Division on 1 February 1945. Kretschmer was promoted to Major General on 1 April 1945. He surrendered his division on 11 May 1945 east of Prague and was captured by Soviet troops and held as a prisoner of war until 1955.^[1]

Awards and decorations

• Anschluss Medal
• Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle Bar
• Blood Order
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (5 March 1945)
• German Cross in Gold (3 October 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 8 March 1945 as Oberst and commander of 17. Panzer-Division^[2]

References

Citations

1. Mitcham, p. 141
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 225.

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.
• Mitcham, Samuel W. (2000). The Panzer Legions. United States: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3353-3.
• 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

• Theodor Kretschmer @ Axis Biographical Research at the Wayback Machine (archived November 17, 2010)
• World War 2 Awards.com