Allegiance Nazi Germany Years of service 1936–45 Name Wilhelm-Ernst von People also search for Gottfried von Cramm | Service/branch Heer Rank Major Role Military Officer | |
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Born 30 September 1917
Bruggen ( 1917-09-30 ) Commands held Divisions-Fusilier-Abteilung 58 Battles/wars World War II
Battle of France
Eastern Front Died 1996, Baddeckenstedt, Germany Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Siblings Gottfried von Cramm, Aschwin Freiherr von Cramm Parents Burchard Baron Freiherr von Cramm, Jutta von Steinberg Battles and wars Battle of France, Eastern Front, World War II | ||
Wilhelm-Ernst August Bernhard Adolf Martin Freiherr von Cramm (30 September 1917 – 29 May 1996) was a highly decorated Major in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. After the war he became head of the German Party, a conservative German political party. His brother was Gottfried Freiherr von Cramm, a German amateur era tennis champion and twice French Open champion.
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Early life and military career
Von Cramm was born on 30 September 1917 in Bruggen, in the former district of Alfeld of the Province of Hanover, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia. He was the son of Burghard Freiherr von Cramm (1874 – 1936), and his wife Jutta nee von Steinberg (1885 – 1972). Von Cramm joined the military service of the Wehrmacht with 3. Schwadron/Kavallerie-Regiment 13 (3rd Squadron of the 13th Cavalry Regiment) on 4 December 1936, three months later on 2 February 1937 he transferred to the 2. Schwadron (2nd Squadron) of the same regiment.