Willy Zeller

Willy Zeller
Born	12 November 1913 Tübingen
Died	9 January 1997 (aged 83) Metzingen
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1935–45
Rank	Hauptmann
Unit	Grenadier-Regiment 380
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Moscow Siege of Leningrad Courland Pocket
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Other work	Police officer

Willy Zeller (12 November 1913 – 9 January 1997) was a highly decorated Hauptmann 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 recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Willy Zeller was captured in 1945 by French troops while recovering in hospital and was held until 1947.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black
  • in Silver
  • in Gold
• Infantry Assault Badge
• Eastern Front Medal
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 7 February 1944 as Leutnant and leader of the 9./Grenadier-Regiment 380^[1]

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 369.

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.
• 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

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945