Willy Jähde

Willy Jähde
Born	18 January 1908 Sorau
Died	25 April 2002(2002-04-25) (aged 94) Munich
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service / branch	Heer
Years of service	1927–45
Rank	Major
Commands	schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502
Battles / wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Siege of Leningrad Battle of Kursk Leningrad–Novgorod Offensive Battle of Narva (1944)
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Willy Jähde (18 January 1908 – 25 April 2002) was a highly decorated Major in the Wehrmacht 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. Willy Jähde was captured by American troops in May 1945. He was later transferred to Soviet custody, but escaped.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (10 September 1939)
  • 1st Class (15 September 1939)
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black
  • in Silver
  • in Gold
• Eastern Front Medal
• Panzer Badge
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 16 March 1944 as Major and commander of schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502

References

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 (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
• Kurowski, Franz (2010). Panzer Aces III:German Tank Commanders in Combat in WWII. Mechanicsburg, PA USA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-0654-4
• 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• World War 2 Awards.com