Years of service 1914–45 | Name Wend Wietersheim Rank Generalleutnant | |
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Born 18 April 1900
Neuland, Lowenberg district, Silesia ( 1900-04-18 ) Allegiance German Empire
Weimar Republic
Nazi Germany Battles/wars World War I
World War II Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords Died September 19, 1975, Bad Honnef, Germany Similar People Johannes Blaskowitz, Gerd von Rundstedt, Alexander Patch, Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, Lucian Truscott | ||
Battles and wars World War I, World War II Commands held 11th Panzer Division Service/branch German Army, Reichswehr | ||
Wend von Wietersheim (18 April 1900 – 19 September 1975) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords of Nazi Germany.
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Career
Wietersheim was born in 1900 into a family of the Chamberlain Walter von Wietersheim (1863–1919). Wietersheim served in World War I with the 4th (1st Silesian) Hussars "von Schill" He was retained in the Reichswehr of the Weimar Republic, serving in the cavalry. In 1938 he transferred to the Panzer (tank) force as an adjutant with the 3rd Panzer Division. With this unit he participated in the German invasion of Poland. Wietersheim took command of a motorcycle infantry battalion of the 1st Panzer Division. He led this battalion in the Battle of France.
Wietersheim was appointed commander of a rifle regiment of the 1st Panzer-Division on 20 July 1941, with which he took part in the invasion of the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa. The 1st Panzer Division was subordinated to Panzer Group 4 under the command of General Erich Hoepner operating on the northern sector of the Eastern Font. In late 1944, Wietersheim was in the south of France, commanding the 11th Panzer Division as it faced Allied amphibious landings near Toulon and Nice. Wietersheim surrendered to the US 90th Infantry Division in May 1945, in Czechoslovakia near the border with Bavaria.