Willy Riedel
Willy Riedel | |
---|---|
Born |
10 November 1909 Liegnitz, Silesia |
Died |
10 February 1982 (aged 72) Potsdam, German Democratic Republic |
Allegiance |
Nazi Germany (to 1945) East Germany |
Service/branch | Heer |
Years of service | 1937–45 |
Rank |
Major (Wehrmacht) Oberst (Kasernierten Volks-Polizei) |
Commands held | III./Infanterie-Regiment 524 |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Willy Riedel (10 November 1909 – 10 February 1982) was a highly decorated Major in the Wehrmacht during World War II. 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. He was severely wounded in early 1943 by a grenade splinter and taken prisoner of war by the Soviet Army.
After World War II he joined the military service of east Germany in the Kasernierte Volkspolizei (Barracked People's Police), the military units of the Volkspolizei (police) in the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). Riedel commanded the 6. motorisierte Schützendivision of the Nationale Volksarmee (National People's Army) from 30 October 1956 to 31 December 1957.
Awards and decorations
- Iron Cross (1939)
- German Cross in Gold on 30 May 1942 as Hauptmann in the III./Infanterie-Regiment 524[2]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Notes
References
Citations
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 (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.