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Willi Thulke

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Years of service
  
1938–45 ?–1972

Service/branch
  
German Army

Name
  
Willi Thulke

Born
  
22 September 1916 Gumbinnen (
1916-09-22
)

Allegiance
  
Nazi Germany (to 1945)  West Germany

Rank
  
Oberstleutnant (Wehrmacht) Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr)

Battles/wars
  
World War II Operation Barbarossa Demyansk Pocket

Died
  
September 4, 1998, Lippstadt, Germany

Awards
  
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Battles and wars
  
Operation Barbarossa, Demyansk Pocket, World War II

Willi Thulke (22 September 1916 – 4 September 1998) was a highly decorated Oberstleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II and an Oberstleutnant in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient 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 (22 July 1941)
  • 1st Class (17 December 1941)
  • Wound Badge
  • in Black (?)
  • Eastern Front Medal (?)
  • Infantry Assault Badge (?)
  • Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze (?)
  • Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 7 January 1943 as Oberleutnant of the Reserves and Chef 6./Grenadier-Regiment 501
  • 424th Oak Leaves on 13 March 1944 as Hauptmann of the Reserves and I./Grenadier-Regiment 501

    • While attending a regimental leadership training course his commanding officers had nominated Thulke for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords in December 1943 for his exceptional combat successes. This request was denied in February 1945.

    References

    Willi Thulke Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA