Theodor von Bechtolsheim

Theodor Freiherr von Mauchenheim gen. Bechtolsheim
Born	26 August 1902 Schloß Mainsondheim, Dettelbach
Died	20 April 1973 (aged 70) Hannover
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Kriegsmarine
Rank	Kapitän zur See
Commands held	Z20 Karl Galster 8. Zerstörerflottille "Narvik"
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Theodor Freiherr von Mauchenheim genannt Bechtolsheim^{[Note 1]} (26 August 1902 – 20 April 1973) was a Kapitän zur See with the Kriegsmarine during World War II and recipient of the coveted Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

His parents were Franz Philipp Gottfried Anton Hermann Moritz Maria Freiherr von Mauchenheim genannt (called) Bechtolsheim (19 February 1862 – 7 November 1902) and Sophie Freifrau, née Freiin von und zu Guttenberg (27 January 1871 – 2 January 1932). His older brother was General der Artillerie Anton-Reichard Hermann Friedrich Maria Freiherr von Mauchenheim genannt Bechtolsheim (9 July 1896 – 9 February 1961). Theodor was married to Ruth Lotze (25 May 1907 – 2 August 1993). The couple had four children, Sophie-Charlotte, Franz-Georg, Rainer and Clemens.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (6 November 1939)^[1]
  • 1st Class (15 November 1939)^[1]
• Destroyer War Badge (19 October 1940)^[1]
• German Cross in Gold on 12 February 1942 as Korvettenkapitän on Karl Galster/6. Zerstörerflottille^[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 3 July 1944 as Kapitän zur See and chief of the 8. Zerstörerflottille "Narvik"^[3][4]
• War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords (30 January 1944)^[1]

Footnotes

1. Regarding personal names: Freiherr is a former title (translated as Baron), which is now legally a part of the last name. The feminine forms are Freifrau and Freiin.

References

Citations

1. Dörr 1996, p. 34.
2. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 298.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 304.
4. Scherzer 2007, p. 530.

Bibliography

• Dörr, Manfred (1996). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Überwasserstreitkräfte der Kriegsmarine—Band 2: L–Z [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Surface Forces of the Navy—Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2497-6.
• 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.
• Range, Clemens (1974). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kriegsmarine [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Navy]. Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-87943-355-1.
• 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.