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Osterhold, Wilhelm

Date of birth:
January 12th, 1914 (Bad Oldesloe/Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)
Date of death:
April 3rd, 2002 (Hann Münden/Lower Saxony, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 13th, 1939
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
December 31st, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:
12. / Infanterie-Regiment 27
Awarded on:
June 3rd, 1942

Award 127/3.
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
Kommandeur III. / Füsilier-Regiment 27 / 12.Infanterie-Division / XXXIX.Panzer-Korps / 4.Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte
Awarded on:
March 26th, 1944
On the 15.02.1944, during the Second Battle of Vitebsk, the Soviets fought to expand their penetration area NW of Vitebsk towards the west. They aimed to do this by capturing the flanking positions in the Prudniki—Gorbatschi sector. Here Osterhold and his Bataillon were able to hold off all Soviet attacks, and in doing so they decisively contributed to the swift end of the battle in the German favour. Osterhold was awarded the Knight’s Cross for this action.

2858th Award.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 48 / 12.Volks-Grenadier-Division / II.SS-Panzer-Korps / 6.(SS)Panzer-Armee / Heeresgruppe B
Awarded on:
February 10th, 1945
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Awarded for the leadership of his Regiment during the Battle for the Bulge, as described in the following chronology…

16.12.1944: Battles in the Losheim gap.

17.12.1944: Traversing the Schleiden road - Losheim gap, and capturing Mürringen.

18.12.1944: Capturing Wirtzfeld.

31.12.1944: Fighting heavy defensive battles on the right wing of the 12. Volksgrenadier-Division in the area around Malempre.

732nd Award.

Sources

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