Wegener, Wilhelm

Date of birth:: April 29th, 1895 (Treebatsch-Beeskow/Brandenburg, Germany)
Date of death:: September 24th, 1944 (Wolmar an der Düna, Latvia)
Nationality:: German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
1914: Kadet;
August 2nd, 1914: Fähnrich;
1915: Leutnant;
1925: Oberleutnant;
February 1st, 1930: Hauptmann (- 18);
November 1st, 1935: Major (- 39);
?: Oberstleutnant;
September 1st, 1941: Oberst;
June 1st, 1942: Generalmajor;
March 1st, 1943: Generalleutnant;
December 1st, 1943: General der Infanterie.

Career:
August 2nd, 1914: Grenadier-Regiment Graf Gneisenau (Pommersches Nr.2) Nr. 9, Stargard;
1916 - 1919: French POW;
October 1st, 1919: Reichswehr-Infanterie-Regiment 3;
1935: Adjutant Infanterie-Regiment 25;
1936: IIa, Stab 32. Infanterie-Division;
September 1st, 1939: IIa, Stab II. Armeekorps;
July 1st, 1940: Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 94
May 14th, 1942: Führerreserve;
June 2nd, 1942: Kommandeur 32. Infanterie-Division;
June 27th, 1943: Führerreserve;;
September 17th, 1943: mit der Führung beauftragd L. Armeekorps;
December 1st, 1943: Kommandierender General L. Armeekorps;
April 1944: Führer Armeegruppe "Wegener".

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1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: September 26th, 1939

1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: May 29th, 1940

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 94 / 32.Infanterie-Division / II.Armee-Korps / 16.Armee / Heeresgruppe Nord
Awarded on:: October 27th, 1940

Awarded the Knight's Cross for the following actions...

1. His successes on the 24.07.1941. On this day three Soviet divisions attacked his Division in the left flank at dawn while it was in marching formation. The attackers were largely repelled, but groups of them infiltrated between the German columns in another attempt at causing damage. These were hunted down and destroyed by Wegener's Regiment in heavy forest battles, and in doing so they saved the staff of the 32. Infanterie-Division from being overrun by the Soviets.

2. The distinguished performance of his Regiment during the battles of late 1941 in the sector of 16. Armee. Specifically during the attack on Cholm, the defense of the bridgehead there, and finally in the German defensive combats east of Demyansk.

627th Award.

Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 94 / 32.Infanterie-Division / 16.Armee / Heeresgruppe Nord
Awarded on:: January 19th, 1942

Wegener's Regiment was one of the units encircled at Demyansk in early 1942, fighting bitter defensive battles there. In January 1942 the Soviets launched an attack in the Watolino sector and captured the village of Medyanki. Wegener counterattacked this breakthrough with his Bataillon Stuppi, and was able to eject the Soviets from the town after bitter house to house fighting, securing it in the late afternoon of 15.01.1942. In doing so Wegener's men destroyed a Soviet regiment and prevented their continued breakthrough to the north, which would have cut off the German Infanterie-Regiment 418. Wegener was awarded the Oakleaves for this action.

66th Award.

Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: General der Infanterie
Unit:: Kommandierender General L.Armeekorps
Awarded on:: September 17th, 1944

Awarded the Swords for his excellent leadership as commander of the L. Armee-Korps. Throughout August and September his corps was able to repel all Soviet attacks in the Modohn area, and as commander of the Wegener group (L., X. Armee and VI. SS-Armee-Korps) he was consistently able to stabilize the frontline.

97th Award.