Wilhelm von Apell

Wilhelm von Apell
Born	16 January 1892 Bückeburg, Schaumburg-Lippe
Died	7 March 1969 (aged 77) Varnholt
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1910–45
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	22. Panzer-Division
Battles/wars	First World War Second World War Annexation of Austria Annexation of the Sudetenland Invasion of Poland Battle of the Netherlands Battle of Belgium Battle of France Battle of Arras (1940) Battle of Dunkirk Invasion of Yugoslavia Battle of Greece Battle of Vevi (1941) Operation Barbarossa Battle of Uman Siege of Sevastopol (1941–1942) Battle of the Caucasus Battle of the Kerch Peninsula
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Wilhelm von Apell (16 January 1892 – 7 March 1969) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War who commanded the 22nd Armoured Division. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Wilhelm von Apell was captured by American troops in 1945 and was released in 1947.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (16 September 1914)
  • 1st Class (3 October 1915)
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
  • in Silver
• Cross for Faithfull Service of Schaumburg-Lippe (17 November 1914)
• Hanseatic Cross of Hamburg
• Military Merit Order 4th Class with Swords (25 December 1915)
• Knight of Honour of the Order of Saint John (15 July 1926)
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (24 December 1934)
• Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th to 1st Class
• Anschluss Medal
• Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle Bar
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (23 September 1939)
  • 1st Class (16 October 1939)
• Crimea Shield
• Panzer Badge
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 May 1941 as Generalmajor and commander of 9.Schützen-Brigade^[1][2]
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (12 April 1941)

Wehrmachtbericht reference

The daily Wehrmachtbericht (Wehrmacht propaganda report) noted the following:

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
Saturday, 12 April 1941	Bei dem Vorstoß einer Panzerdivision auf Üsküp am 6. und 7. April haben sich Oberst Apell, Kommandeur einer Schützenbrigade, und Oberstleutnant Borowiezt, Kommandeur einer Panzerjägerabteilung, besonders ausgezeichent.[3]	Oberst Apell, commander of a Schützenbrigade, and Oberstleutnant Borowiezt, commander of a Panzerjägerabteilung, distinguished themselves on 6 and 7 April during the advance of an Armoured Division on Skopje.

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 117.
2. Scherzer 2007, p. 193.
3. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945, vol. 1, p. 480

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 [Wearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Possessors 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 Wearers of the Knight's Cross 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Forces Allied 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 1, 1. September 1939 bis 31. Dezember 1941 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 1, 1 September 1939 to 31 December 1941] (in German). Munich, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.

External links

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