Allegiance Nazi Germany Other work Police Officer Service/branch German Army | Years of service 1936–45 Name Wilhelm-August Vielwerth Rank Oberleutnant | |
Born 10 February 1912
Budingen ( 1912-02-10 ) Unit 87 Infantry Regiment (mot) Battles/wars World War II
Battle of France
Operation Barbarossa
Siege of Leningrad
Battle of Moscow
Battle of Smolensk (1943)
Operation Bagration
Bobruysk Offensive Died August 12, 1997, Budingen, Germany Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Battles and wars Battle of France, Operation Barbarossa | ||
Erich Wilhelm August Vielwerth (10 February 1912 – 12 August 1997) was a highly decorated Oberleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who was awarded 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. Erich Vielwerth was captured by American troops in May 1945, and was released in August 1945.
Contents
Early years
Erich Vielwerth was born on 10 February 1912 in Budingen, he was police officer from 1931 to 1936 and in 1936 he joined the 87 Motorized Infantry Regiment of the Wehrmacht.
Service in France
In 1940 he participated in the invasion of France. During the invasion he learned the skill of how to destroy bunkers, this would later serve him well in Operation Barbarossa and during the Siege of Leningrad.
Russia and Knight's Cross Award
He participated in Operation Barbarossa serving in the area of Leningrad. On 10 October 1941, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his actions in destroying over 50 enemy bunkers, personally destroying several by himself. On 5 August 1942 he was shot in the back and was in hospital until December 1942. He did not return to action in Russia until November 1943, he remained with his regiment until the destruction of Army Group Centre in 1944 during Operation Bagration.
Retreat from Russia
With the destruction of Army Group Centre in 1944, he began an 54 day, 800 kilometre trek from Russia through the Pripet Marshes to Lithuania and finally to East Prussia. Throughout the retreat he and a group of other soldiers passed through many Soviet occupied villages and had many encounters with the Red army. At the end of the retreat Vielwerth had gone from 164 to 118 lbs.
Later service
In November 1944 the 87 Motorized Infantry Regiment was posted to the Westwall fortifications, during this time Vielwerth became a company commander. In March 1945 he was given command of a battalion and was awarded the German Cross in Gold. On May 6, 1945 he was captured and was held until August 12, 1945.