Wilhelm Bleckwenn

Wilhelm Bleckwenn
Born	21 October 1906 Berge
Died	10 May 1989 (aged 82) Saarbrücken
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1935–45
Rank	Generalmajor
Commands held	708th Volksgrenadier Division 1st Naval Infantry Division
Battles/wars	World War II Operation Bagration
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Wilhelm Bleckwenn (21 October 1906 – 10 May 1989) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. Bleckwenn was awarded the Oak Leaves for his leadership after the collapse Army Group Centre. He led his regiment on a 44-day fighting retreat from the Dnieper to East Prussia. He surrendered to the British troops in 1945 and was held until 1947.

Awards and decorations

• German Cross in Gold on 14 April 1942 as Major in Infanterie-Regiment 487^[1]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 6 April 1944 as Oberst and commander of Grenadier-Regiment 487^[2]
  • 621st Oak Leaves on 18 October 1944 as Oberst and commander of Grenadier-Regiment 487^[3]

References

Citations

1. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 45.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 115.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 76.

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.