Wilhelm Messer

Wilhelm Messer
Born	19 April 1917 Pfungstadt
Died	5 April 2008 (aged 90) Pfungstadt
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1936–45
Rank	Leutnant
Unit	Kampfgeschwader zbV 1 Transportgeschwader 2
Battles/wars	World War II Eastern Front Siege of Breslau
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Wilhelm Messer (19 April 1917 – 5 April 2008) was a highly decorated Leutnant in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and 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.

Awards and decorations

• Aviator badge
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (20 April 1942)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• German Cross in Gold (28 January 1943)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 12 March 1945 as Leutnant and pilot and in 11./Transportgeschwader 2^[1]

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 253.

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