Date of birth:

October 18th, 1914 (Gerdt/Baerl am Rhein, Germany)

Date of death:

August 26th, 1944 (20 km West of Gura Galbenei, Cimișlia - Moldova)

Service number:

14./ I.R. 23 Nr.1

Nationality:

German

Adolf Wilhelm Abel was killed on August 26th, 1944 after having placed an explosive device on a Soviet verhicle.

Promotions:
June 15th, 1934: Fahnenjunker;
October 1st, 1934: Gefreiter;
June 1st, 1935: Fähnrich;
October 25th, 1935: Oberfähnricht;
April 20th, 1936: Leutnant;
August 26th, 1939: Oberleutnant;
January 18th, 1942: Hauptmann;
February 15th, 1943: Major;
June 20th, 1944: Oberstleutnant.

Career:
June 15th, 1934: 5. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 2;
December 1st, 1934: 12. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 2;
June 14th, 1935: Infanterieschule Dresden;
February 1936: Infanterie-Regiment 23;
February - March 1936: Zugführer-Lehrgang für Panzerabwehreinheiten;
August 26th, 1939: Infanterie-Panzerabwehr-Ersatz-Kompanie 206;
September 1st, 1939: Chef, 14. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 23;
November 1939: Chef, 14. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 206;
December 28th, 1939: Chef, 14. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 364;
November 7th, 1941: Adjutant, Infanterie-Regiment 371;
January 23rd, 1942: Führer, I. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 371;
March 7th, 1942: Führer, III. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 371;
December 2nd, 1943: Kommandeur, I. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 364;
December 11th, 1943: Führer, Grenadier-Regiment 364;
1943: Führerreserve OKH;
February 29th, 1944: Führer, Grenadier-Regiment 570;
June 20th, 1944: Kommandeur, Grenadier-Regiment 570.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef, 14. Kompanie, III. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 364, 161. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

June 25th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef, 14. Kompanie, III. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 364, 161. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

October 27th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef, 14. Kompanie, III. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 364, 161. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

August 13th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef, 14. Kompanie, III. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 364, 161. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

September 30th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Führer, I. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 371, 161. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

April 15th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Führer, III. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 371, 161. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

November 20th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Führer, III. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 371, 161. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

December 13th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Kommandeur, I. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 364, 161. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

September 23rd, 1943

Abel’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“Major Abel and his Bataillon have repulsed all the enemy’s overwhelming attacks over the course of 14 days of brutal defensive combat. In the process they inflicted heavy losses on the foe.

On the 02.09.1943, during the course of the combat around Goluboff, a 2 km wide gap developed on the boundary with the left neighbour. The Russians infiltrated through this gap and into the rear of our lines with about 200-300 men. Clearly recognizing the situation for what it was, Major Abel made the independent decision to close this gap via offensive action. Though he only had 70 men in his sector he nonetheless managed to round up a strike group from this total. Leading at the head of this force, he managed to eject the enemy, inflict bloody losses and capture a number of prisoners.

He prevented a breakthrough of the only weakly held divisional frontline through this combination of bold behaviour, energetic decisiveness and high qualities of leadership. In the process of this engagement he became wounded for the 6th time, however he stayed in the fight and retained command of his Bataillon.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• Photo: Willi Schumacher Collection - ABEL, Adolf Wilhelm - apkymas by keivingh
  
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio-Verlag, Osnabrück, 1987.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Lexikon der Wehrmacht