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Falley, Wilhelm

Date of birth:
September 25th, 1897 (Metz/Lorraine, Germany)
Date of death:
June 6th, 1944 (Chateau de Bernaville-Picauville/Normandy, France)
Buried on:
German War Cemetery Orglandes
Plot: 10. Row: 2. Grave: 207.
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Generalleutnant Wilhelm Falley was commanding the 91.Luftlande-Infanterie-Division when he was ambushed by American paratroopers and was killed near his headquarters at Chateau de Bernaville, Picauville in Normandy.

07.08.1915: Leutnant der Reserve
26.01.1919: Leutnant
31.07.1925: Oberleutnant
01.03.1932: Hauptmann
01.04.1936: Major
01.08.1939: Oberstleutnant
01.02.1942: Oberst
01.12.1943: Generalmajor
01.05.1944: Generalleutnant

01.07.1933-01.10.1934: Commander of 5th Company, 5th Infantry Regiment
15.10.1935-06.10.1936: Commander of 18th Company, 5th Infantry Regiment
26.08.1939-13.01.1940: Commander of 3d Battalion, 238th Infantry Regiment
13.01.1940-21.04.1941: Commander of 3d Battalion, 433rd Infantry Regiment
21.04.1941-19.06.1942: Commander of 4th Infantry Regiment
01.08.1942-10.06.1943: Commandant of School V for Infantry Fahnenjunker, Döberitz then Posen
12.09.1943-01.10.1943: Temporary-Commander of 36th Infantry Division
01.10.1943-05.10.1943: Commander of 330th Infantry Division
05.10.1943-01.12.1943: Temporary-Commander of 246th Infantry Division
01.12.1943-20.04.1944: Commander of 246th Infantry-Division
25.04.1944-06.06.1944: Commander of 91st Infantry-Air-Landing-Division
06.06.1944: KIA in Chateau de Bernaville near Picauville, Normandy

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur, II.Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 433,164.Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
July 26th, 1940
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Infanterie-Regiment 4, 32.Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
June 23rd, 1941
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Infanterie-Regiment 4, 32.Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
August 26th, 1941

Silver version.
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Infanterie-Regiment 4, 32.Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
November 26th, 1941
The following wartime excerpt describes why Falley would be awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“The Infanterie-Regiment 4 attacked the strong enemy positions that were bitterly defended by their occupants. After a hard man to man fight the enemy was crushed, and a powerful thrust into the depths of the fortifications rendered any further resistance untenable. Oberstleutnant Falley led his brave Regiment at the head of the assaulting Bataillone and secured the ultimate victory in this difficult and costly battle. The swift breakthrough of the fortifications along the Sarjanka was of decisive importance for the continuation of friendly operations.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
November 12th, 1943
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalmajor (Brigadier)
Unit:
Kommandeur, 246.Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
January 20th, 1944
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
July 19th, 1940
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
November 15th, 1915
Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (1914)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
July 29th, 1918
Hamburgisches Hanseatenkreuz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
March 20th, 1942
Voenen Orden

Sources