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Bechler, Helmut

Date of birth:
June 2nd, 1898 (Grün/Saxony, Germany)
Date of death:
January 9th, 1971 (Kassel/Hesse, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Helmut Bechler served as Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 173 and as Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 504.He was seriously wounded in the Hürtgenwald on March 15th, 1945. He finally reached the rank of Generalmajor.

03.09.1915: Unteroffizier
03.12.1915: Fähnrich
21.10.1916: Leutnant
01.02.1934: Hauptmann (63) RDA 15.07.1934
01.04.1939: Major (38)
01.02.1942: Oberstleutnant (183)
01.12.1942: Oberst (60) RDA 15.02.1943
30.01.1945: Generalmajor

10.6.1915: entered the Heer
21.10.1916: Leutnant - Inf.Regt. 182
01.04.1935: Hauptmann - Kompanie Chef - 11./ Inf.Regt. 53
01.09.1939: Major - Kdr - I./ Inf.Regt. 173
06.01.1942: Kdr - Inf.Regt. 173
29.03.1943: Führer Reserve - 3. Panzer Armee
01.07.1943-31.08.1944: Kdr - Inf.Regt. 504
07.09.1944: sent to the 14. Divisions-Führer-Lehrgang
11.10.1944: Kdr - 275 Inf.Div. (m.st.F.b.)
22.11.1944-15.03.1945: Kdr - 85 Inf.Div.
15.03.1945: WIA

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
March 5th, 1935
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
Führer, I. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 173, 87. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
December 19th, 1941
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Grenadier-Regiment 504, 291. Infanterie-Division, LIX.Armee-Korps, 1.Panzerarmee, Heeresgruppe Süd
Awarded on:
March 26th, 1944
Awarded for his actions while his Division was fighting in the Kamenets-Podolsky pocket.

On the night of the 09./10.03.1944 the Grenadier-Regiment 504 was tasked with occupying the village of Sapadinzy (located 3 km to the east of the Schepetowka—Proskurow road). Its mission was to hold this village and prevent the enemy from reaching the road while the bulk of the Korps (i.e. 3 Divisionen) were retreating along it. As the first regimental elements arrived they were surprised by the sudden appearance of Soviet armour. Acting swiftly himself, Oberst Bechler was able to stabilize the situation with the immediately available elements of his unit (some 30 men). He then used the follow-up regimental elements to create a defensive front in the extended village and was ultimately able to hold Sapadinzy for 3 days against all Soviet attacks, some of which were supported by tanks.

Bechler would be recognized appropriately for this brave and important operational victory.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
April 2nd, 1944
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
July 3rd, 1944
in bronze
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 14th, 1940
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
June 8th, 1940
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
August 21st, 1918
Eisernes Kreuz 1.Klasse (1914)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
July 20th, 1916
Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (1914)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 30th, 1918
Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (1918)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 23rd, 1917
with swords
Ritterkreuz II. Klasse des Königlich Sächsischer Albrechtsordens
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
November 29th, 1919
Schlesisches Bewährungsabzeichen 2. Stufe
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
January 30th, 1920
Schlesisches Bewährungsabzeichen 1. Stufe
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1940
Deutsches Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen

Sources

Photo