Wilhelm Schneckenburger

Wilhelm Schneckenburger
Nickname(s)	"Willi"
Born	30 March 1891 Tübingen, German Empire
Died	14 October 1944 (aged 53) Belgrade, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany (to 1944)
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1909–44
Rank	General der Infanterie
Commands held	125. Infanterie-Division XVII. Armeekorps
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Invasion of Yugoslavia Operation Barbarossa Battle of Kiev (1941) First Battle of Kharkov Battle of the Caucasus Belgrade Offensive †
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Wilhelm 'Willi' Schneckenburger (30 March 1891 – 14 October 1944) was a highly decorated General der Infanterie in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the XVII Armeekorps. 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. Wilhelm Schneckenburger was killed on 14 October 1944 by fire from low flying aircraft.

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
  • 1st Class
• Eastern Front Medal
• German Cross in Gold (5 May 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 1 August 1942 as Generalleutnant and commander of 125. Infanterie Division ^[1]
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 27 July 1942

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
Monday, 27 July 1942	Bei der Erstürmung der Stadt Bataisk haben sich der Kommandierende General eines Armeekorps, General der Gebirgstruppen Konrad, und der Kommandeur einer Infanteriedivision, Generalleutnant Schneckenburger, besonders ausgezeichnet. Sie haben unter persönlichem Einsatz an der Spitze der angreifenden Truppen am 26. Juli die Stadt gestürmt.[2]	In the assault of the city Bataisk, the commanding general of an army corps, General of the Mountain Troops Konrad, and the commander of an infantry division Lieutenant General Schneckenburger, have particularly distinguished themselves. They have under personal risk, at the head of the attacking troops, stormed the city on 26 July.

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 312.
2. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, pp. 220–221.

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.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 2, 1 January 1942 to 31 December 1943] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• World War 2 Awards.com