Bechler, Helmut

Date of birth:: June 2nd, 1898 (Grün/Saxony, Germany)
Date of death:: January 9th, 1971 (Kassel/Hesse, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Helmut Bechler served as Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 173 and as Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 504.He was seriously wounded in the Hürtgenwald on March 15th, 1945. He finally reached the rank of Generalmajor.

03.09.1915: Unteroffizier
03.12.1915: Fähnrich
21.10.1916: Leutnant
01.02.1934: Hauptmann (63) RDA 15.07.1934
01.04.1939: Major (38)
01.02.1942: Oberstleutnant (183)
01.12.1942: Oberst (60) RDA 15.02.1943
30.01.1945: Generalmajor

10.6.1915: entered the Heer
21.10.1916: Leutnant - Inf.Regt. 182
01.04.1935: Hauptmann - Kompanie Chef - 11./ Inf.Regt. 53
01.09.1939: Major - Kdr - I./ Inf.Regt. 173
06.01.1942: Kdr - Inf.Regt. 173
29.03.1943: Führer Reserve - 3. Panzer Armee
01.07.1943-31.08.1944: Kdr - Inf.Regt. 504
07.09.1944: sent to the 14. Divisions-Führer-Lehrgang
11.10.1944: Kdr - 275 Inf.Div. (m.st.F.b.)
22.11.1944-15.03.1945: Kdr - 85 Inf.Div.
15.03.1945: WIA

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Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: March 5th, 1935

Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Major
Unit:: Führer, I. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 173, 87. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:: December 19th, 1941

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur, Grenadier-Regiment 504, 291. Infanterie-Division, LIX.Armee-Korps, 1.Panzerarmee, Heeresgruppe Süd
Awarded on:: March 26th, 1944

Awarded for his actions while his Division was fighting in the Kamenets-Podolsky pocket.

On the night of the 09./10.03.1944 the Grenadier-Regiment 504 was tasked with occupying the village of Sapadinzy (located 3 km to the east of the Schepetowka—Proskurow road). Its mission was to hold this village and prevent the enemy from reaching the road while the bulk of the Korps (i.e. 3 Divisionen) were retreating along it. As the first regimental elements arrived they were surprised by the sudden appearance of Soviet armour. Acting swiftly himself, Oberst Bechler was able to stabilize the situation with the immediately available elements of his unit (some 30 men). He then used the follow-up regimental elements to create a defensive front in the extended village and was ultimately able to hold Sapadinzy for 3 days against all Soviet attacks, some of which were supported by tanks.

Bechler would be recognized appropriately for this brave and important operational victory.