Wilhelm Drewes

Wilhelm Drewes
Born	(1907-05-26)26 May 1907 Ilster
Died	14 July 1982(1982-07-14) (aged 75) Bremen
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1935–1945
Rank	Major
Commands held	I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 13
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Invasion of Yugoslavia Battle of Greece Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Moscow Battle of Kursk Operation Bagration Upper Silesian Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Wilhelm Drewes (26 May 1907 – 14 July 1982) was a highly decorated Major in the Wehrmacht during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients 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.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Eastern Front Medal
• Infantry Assault Badge
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 27 October 1943 as Hauptmann and commander of I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 13
  • 458th Oak Leaves on 20 April 1944 as Major and commander of I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 13

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht