Kretschmer, Theodor

Date of birth:: November 26th, 1901 (Burghaun/Hesse-Nassau, Germany)
Date of death:: December 5th, 1986 (Schlitz/Hesse, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Theodor Kretschmer joined the German Army in 1919 and was commissioned in 1924. After a number of staff positions he briefly became commander of the 16th Panzer-Division in late 1944 before taking over as the commander of the 17th Panzer Division on 1 February 1945. Kretschmer was promoted to Major General on 1 April 1945. He surrendered his division on 11 May 1945 east of Prague. Convicted in the Soviet Union as a war criminal, he was held until 1955.

Promotions:
Fähnrich: 1923
Oberfähnrich: 1924
Leutnant: 1st December 1924
Oberleutnant: 1st April 1928
Hauptmann: 1st August 1934
Major: 1st April 1939
Oberstleutnant: 1st April 1941
Oberst: 1st October 1942
Generalmajor: 1st April 1945

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Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberstleutnant
Unit:: Panzer-Regiment 36
Awarded on:: October 3rd, 1942

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberst
Unit:: Führer 17.Panzer-Division
Awarded on:: March 8th, 1945

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: March 5th, 1945

Ehrenzeichen des 9. November 1923 (Blutorden)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 3.Klasse, 12 Jahre

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 2. Klasse, 18 Jahre

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938 mit Spange

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Sources

Photo 1: STIWOT
- Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
- Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
- Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X
- Generalmajor Theodor Kretschmer