Date of birth:

November 25th, 1913 (Niederwiesa / Chemnitz)

Date of death:

August 12th, 1993 (Stade)

Nationality:

German

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef 5. / Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 129

Awarded on:

August 15th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Chef 4. / Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 129 / 29.Panzer-Grenadier-Division

Awarded on:

January 12th, 1945

During the fighting in the Emilia-Romagna area (south of Bologna) in late 1944 the Allies managed to tear a hole in the weakly held frontline of the 29. Panzergrenadier-Division. In response Hauptmann Drexler launched a counterattack with a handful of men from his Kompanie. He not only managed to close the frontline gap but was also able to capture a large number of prisoners in the process. He would thus later be awarded the Knight’s Cross for this successful action.

• Photo 1: Known to STIWOT
• - SCHINDLER, MICHAEL G., Ritterkreuzträger aus Sachsen 1939-1945, libergraphix.
  - 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
  - Ehrenblatt des Deutschen Heeres dated August 15th 1944