Wilhelm Bleckwenn

Wilhelm Bleckwenn
Born	21 October 1906 Berge
Died	10 May 1989 (aged 82) Saarbrücken
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1935–45
Rank	Generalmajor
Commands held	Infanterie-Regiment 487 708. Volksgrenadier-Division 1.Marine-Infanterie-Division
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Moscow Operation Bagration
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Other work	Police Officer

Wilhelm Bleckwenn (21 October 1906 – 10 May 1989) was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Generalmajor Bleckwenn was awarded the Oak Leaves for his leadership after the collapse Army Group Centre. He led his regiment on a 44-day fighting retreat from the Dnieper to East Prussia. Wilhelm Bleckwenn was captured by British troops in 1945 and was held until 1947.

Awards and decorations

• West Wall Medal (20 March 1940)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (21 May 1940)^[1]
  • 1st Class (1 July 1940)^[1]
• Infantry Assault Badge (1 July 1940)
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze
  • in Silver
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black (10 September 1941)
  • in Silver (20 August 1943)
• Eastern Front Medal (20 August 1942)
• German Cross in Gold on 14 April 1942 as Major in Infanterie-Regiment 487^[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 6 April 1944 as Oberst and commander of Grenadier-Regiment 487^[3]
  • 621st Oak Leaves on 18 October 1944 as Oberst and commander of Grenadier-Regiment 487^[4]

References

Citations

1. Thomas 1997, p. 51.
2. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 45.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 115.
4. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 76.

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 (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945
• specialcamp11