Welzel, Franz-Josef

Date of birth:: January 27th, 1895 (Alt Wilmsdorf/Silesia, Germany)
Date of death:: August 15th, 1978 (Bad Salzuflen/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Awards:
July 8th, 1918: Goldenes Militär-Verdienst-Kreuz;
x?: Herzoglich Sachsen-Meiningisches Ehrenkreuz für Verdienst im Kriege;
x?: Schlesischer Adler-Orden, II. und I. Stufe.

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Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (1914)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Eisernes Kreuz 1.Klasse (1914)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (1918)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

IV. bis I. Klasse

Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

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)

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Major
Unit:: Kommandeur, I. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 461, 252. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: July 19th, 1940

The following wartime excerpt (dated 30.08.1940) describes why Welzel received the Knight’s Cross…

“Major Josef Welzel demonstrated admirable devotion to duty during the extraordinarily fierce combat before the Maginot Line along the Moderbach (near Saaralben). Here he gave his men resolve to fight in the most trying of hours. His personal actions were responsible for enabling his Bataillon’s 1. Kompanie to secure a foothold in the bushy terrain along both sides of the Moderbach despite the presence of powerful defensive fire. Then, despite being fully cut-off, the unit managed to hold its position until reinforcements arrived on the following evening. Major Welzel also accomplished significant feats during the fighting in the Vosges Hills.”