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Müller, Friedrich-Wilhelm

Date of birth:
August 29th, 1897 (Wuppertal-Barmen/Westernphalia, Germany)
Date of death:
May 20th, 1947 (Athens, Greece)
Nationality:
German

Biography

Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller was executed on 20th May 1947 for warcrimes he was supposed to be guilty of.
Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller began his military career as an infantryman with German 2nd Infantry Regiment in 1915. Later in the same year, he was made a second lieutenant with 266th Regiment. Remaining with the German Army after WW1, he rose through the ranks slowly but steadily, reaching the rank of major in 1936 and lieutenant colonel in 1940. As the commanding officer of 105th Infantry Regiment, he saw action with the Soviets, for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in 1941 and Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross in 1942. In Aug 1942, he was made the commanding officer of 22nd Air Landing Infantry Division based in Crete, Greece. He was responsible for many acts of atrocity against Greek civilians, including the massacres at Viannos, Anogia, Amari, and Damasta, as well as for the execution of prisoners of war against over 100 Italian officers on the island of Kos. In 1943, at the rank of Generalleutnant, he was made the commanding officer of 22nd Infantry Division. In Jul 1944, he was made the commanding officer of all occupation forces on Crete. In 1945, he returned to the Eastern Front at the helm of German 4th Army. He was captured by the Soviets at the end of the war in Ostpreußen (East Prussia), Germany. He was tried by a Greek court for war crimes in 1946. Found guilty, the "Butcher of Crete" was sentenced to death by firing squad, and the sentence was carried out in May 1947.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
December 22nd, 1939

Had already received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 25th May 1916.
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
June 12th, 1940

Had already received the Iron Cross 1st Class on 29th August 1916.
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 105 / 72.Infanterie-Division / LIV.Armee-Korps / 11. Armee / Heeresgruppe Süd
Awarded on:
September 22nd, 1941
During the pursuit battles around Nikolajew, the German units were brought to a halt by Soviet resistance at Warwarowka. Here Oberstleutnant Müller, at the head of his Vorausabteilung, was able to bring the attack back into motion and capture Warwarowka. He then proceeded to foil the Soviet attempts to inflict permanent damage to the 950 metre long bridge over the Bug river. By doing this he achieved an act of great significance for not just the Korps, but also the whole Armee, in the crossing over the Bug river. He would be awarded the Knight’s Cross for this action.

521st Award.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
January 19th, 1942
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
February 8th, 1942

670th Award.
Anerkennungsurkunde des Oberbefehlshabers des Heeres
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst
Unit:
Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 105 / 72.Infanterie-Division / XXX.Armee-Korps / 11.Armee
Awarded on:
April 8th, 1942
Awarded for his recapture of Feodosia, which was of great significance for the fighting in the area.


86th Award.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalleutnant
Unit:
Kommandeur 22.Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
June 18th, 1943
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Award 394/20.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
November 18th, 1943
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
General der Infanterie
Unit:
Kommandierender General LXVIII.Armee-Korps
Awarded on:
January 27th, 1945
Awarded for his command achievements during the German retreat from the Balkans in late 1944. In October of that year he ensured that the vital supply node of Kraljevo remained in German hands despite having only an ad-hoc Korps command to work with. Later, as commander of the LXVIII. Armee-Korps, he managed to fend off all enemy attempts to eliminate the German troops that were still evacuating from the Balkans.

128th Award.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
March 10th, 1945
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
March 30th, 1945
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 25th, 1916
Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (1914)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
August 29th, 1916
Eisernes Kreuz 1.Klasse (1914)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
with swords
Ritter des Königlicher Preussischer Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern

Sources

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