Date of birth:

February 19th, 1911 (Pforzheim/Baden, Germany)

Date of death:

August 23rd, 1944 (south-west of Šiauliai/Šiauliai District, Lithuania)

Buried on:

German War Cemetery Kauen / Kaunas
Grave: UNK.

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

23.08.1944: Oberstleutnant, Kommandeur Pz-Gren.Rgt. 6, Kampfgruppe Weitzel, KIA, near Pagiriai,10 km North West of Kelme (VDK)

Oberstleutnant Weitzel was killed in action and burried together with some members of his staff southwest Šiauliai, Lithuania. He was posthumously promoted to Oberst (colonel).

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Führer, I. Bataillon, Schützen-Regiment 7, 7. Panzer-Division

Awarded on:

October 18th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Führer, II. Bataillon, Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6, 7. Panzer-Division

Awarded on:

October 15th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6, 7. Panzer-Division

Awarded on:

August 23rd, 1944

The following newspaper article (dated 24.10.1944) describes why Weitzel received the Knight’s Cross…

“Knight’s Cross After a Heroic Death - For Oberstleutnant Adalbert Weitzel in Pforzheim:

As has been previously reported in the Wehrmachtbericht supplements of the 15.08.1944, the 7. Panzer-Division was also decisively involved in preventing a Soviet breakthrough into East Prussia. During this time one of the Division’s Panzergrenadier-Regiments was commanded by Oberstleutnant Adalbert Weitzel (born in Pforzheim on the 19.02.1911). In the combat that took place here he identified two enemy divisions that were attempting to envelop friendly forces, and so to prevent this he attacked them with his own unit. In the fearsome combat that ensued he and his troops inflicted heavy losses on the Bolsheviks, and their advance was brought to a halt. Oberstleutnant Weitzel would himself die in battle on the 17.08.1944, and therefore did not live to receive his posthumous award of the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.”

• Photo 1:
• Photo 2:
• - Ehrenblattspange Zeitungsabschnitt.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer, Elite of the Third Reich - The Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-45: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, England, 2003
  - Manteuffel, von H., Die 7. Panzer-Division – Bewaffnung, Einsätze, Männer, Nebel Verlag GmbH, Eggolsheim, Deutschland, 2001
  - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001
  - Axis History
  - Pforzheimer Anzeiger (Edition 250)
  

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