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Wilhelm Drewes

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Allegiance
  
Nazi Germany

Name
  
Wilhelm Drewes

Rank
  
Major

Years of service
  
1935–45

Service/branch
  
German Army

Born
  
26 May 1907 Ilster (
1907-05-26
)

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 Bialystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Moscow Battle of Kursk Operation Bagration Upper Silesian Offensive

Died
  
July 14, 1982, Bremen, Germany

Awards
  
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Battles and wars
  
Invasion of Poland, Battle of France

Wilhelm Heinrich Friedrich 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 (5 October 1939)
  • 1st Class (14 June 1940)
  • Sudetenland Medal (1 July 1939)
  • Eastern Front Medal (13 August 1942)
  • Panzer Badge in Bronze (24 November 1940)
  • Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze (27 October 1943)
  • in Silver (3 May 1944)
  • Wound Badge in Black (5 December 1943)
  • 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

    Wilhelm Drewes Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA