Fiederer, Wilhelm (Infanterie-Regiment 164)

Date of birth:: September 13th, 1906 (Tutzing/Bavaria, Germany)
Date of death:: September 16th, 1942 (Voronezh/Voronezh Oblast, Soviet Union)
Buried on:: German War Cemetery Kursk - Besedino
Grave: UNK.
Nationality:: German

Biography

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Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:: Chef, 5. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 164, 62.Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:: September 14th, 1942

The following press article, dated 15.10.1942, describes why Fiederer would be awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“The bravery of this outstanding reserve officer would be decisive during mid-August 1942, when the Soviets attempted to force a penetration into the Voronezh bridgehead with the support of numerous tanks. Acting swiftly, Leutnant Fiederer commenced a counterattack with his Infanterie-Kompanie. He destroyed 1 tank with close combat weapons, and 7 more were destroyed by the Sturmgeschütze and Pak he had called up. At the head of only 2 squads from his Kompanie, he then threw back the enemy infantry in bitter close combat. His brave steadfastness and daring leadership ensured that this major breakthrough attempt was defeated, and furthermore that the attack by his Division could be carried out successfully on the same day.”

Sources

Photo 1:
- THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio Verlag, Bissendorf, 2003.
- 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