Weitkunat, Adolf

Date of birth:: February 7th, 1895 (Grünfließ, Germany)
Date of death:: June 28th, 1988 (Buchholz in der Nordheide, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

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Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (1914)

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)

Eisernes Kreuz 1.Klasse (1914)

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)

Ritter des Königlicher Preussischer Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)

Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)

1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Nahkampfspange in Bronze

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Rittmeister der Reserve
Unit:: Commander Aufklärungs-Schwadron 206
Awarded on:: November 4th, 1941

Rittmeister der Reserve Weitkunat received the Knight's Cross mainly for his swift capture of the bridge over the Beresa at Mostowaja on the 10.10.1941. The importance of this achievement was that the retreating Soviets in front of the XXIII. Armee-Korps were unable to occupy fortified bunker positions along the Volga, saving the Germans a tough slog through well-built positions. He also made possible the rapid capture of the heavily-defended town of Rzhev against a superior hostile defense shortly afterwards.

Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Major der Reserve (Major of Reserves)
Unit:: Kommandeur, Kampf-Battalion 488
Awarded on:: December 5th, 1943

Awarded for his successes commanding an ad-hoc infantry Bataillon during the slow retreat of Heeresgruppe Mitte in the summer of 1943. A particularly notable achievement was when his Bataillon recaptured a hotly contested village southwest of Vyazma from the Soviets, and thereafter defeated numerous attacks by tanks and infantry.

346th award