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Wietersheim, von, Walter

Date of birth:
November 29th, 1917 (Barzdorf/Lower Silesia, Germany)
Date of death:
January 19th, 2002 (Bielefeld/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

In service from April 6th 1936.

Promotions:
1st June 1940: Oberleutnant (RDA 682);
1st February 1944: Major (RDA 36 h).

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Unit:
Panzer-Regiment 28
Awarded on:
May 26th, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Unit:
Panzer-Regiment 28
Awarded on:
July 10th, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
2. / Panzer-Abteilung 18
Awarded on:
February 11th, 1943

According to his karteikarte the awarding/presentation was on April 10th, 1943 with Panzer-Regiment "Grossdeutschland".
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Unit:
Führer II. / Panzer-Regiment "Großdeutschland"
Awarded on:
December 27th, 1943
Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Kommandeur II. / Panzer-Regiment "Großdeutschland" / Panzergrenadier-Division "Großdeutschland" / 4.Rumänische Armee / Heeresgruppe Südukraine
Awarded on:
May 15th, 1944
On the morning of 08.03.1944 the Soviets launched a heavy attack against the Panzergrenadier-Division "Großdeutschland" in the area west of Kirovograd. At the time Wietersheim commanded an Abteilung of Panzer IVs. The Division was relatively weak at the time, and it fought desperately to hold the Soviets back. During the fighting on this day Wietersheim's Panzers played a decisive role in the German defensive successes, even successfully taking on Soviet IS-2 tanks. Wietersheim's Panzers played a key role in preventing a Soviet breakthrough in this area and enabling a new German defensive line to be built west of Jassy. On this day his Abteilung also destroyed...

- 14 tanks
- 6 anti-tank guns
- 2 artillery pieces.

For his Abteilung’s success in this battle, Wietersheim was awarded the Knight's Cross.

Unit according to the karteikarte was Panzer-Regiment "Großdeutschland".
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Unit:
Panzer-Regiment 18

Silver version.
Panzerkampfabzeichen (ohne Zahl)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Unit:
2. / Panzer-Abteilung 18
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz

Sources

Photo