Friedrich-Wilhelm Breidenbach

Friedrich-Wilhelm Breidenbach
Born	17 October 1916 Pfungstadt
Died	2 March 1999 (aged 82) Markt Kirchzell
Allegiance	Nazi Germany (to 1945)
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1936–45
Rank	Major
Commands held	Panzer-Abteilung (Panther) 2101 Panzer-Brigade 101
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Moscow Battles of Rzhev Battle of Narva Tartu Offensive Riga Offensive (1944) East Prussian Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Friedrich-Wilhelm Breidenbach (17 October 1916 – 2 March 1999) 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. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Friedrich-Wilhelm Breidenbach was captured by American troops in April 1945 and was released in April 1946.

Awards and decorations

• West Wall Medal (20 March 1940)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (3 July 1940)
  • 1st Class (18 July 1941)
• Infantry Assault Badge (1 April 1941)
• Panzer Badge
  • in Silver
  • II Class
  • III Class
• Eastern Front Medal (1 July 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 September 1944 as Major and commander of Panzer-Brigade 101 ^[1]

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 122.

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 Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.