Josef Rettemeier

Josef-Wilhelm Rettemeier
Josef Rettemeier
Born	(1914-09-17)September 17, 1914
Died	19 December 1997(1997-12-19) (aged 83)
Place of birth	Niederdollendorf
Place of death	Bad Nauheim
Allegiance	Nazi Germany West Germany
Service/branch	Heer Bundeswehr
Years of service	1934–1945 1956–1972
Rank	Oberst (Wehrmacht) Oberst (Bundeswehr)
Commands held	Panzer-Abteilung 5
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of France North African Campaign Battle of Gazala Battle of Smolensk (1943)
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Josef-Wilhelm Rettemeier (17 September 1914 – 19 December 1997) was a highly decorated Oberst in the Wehrmacht during World War II and an Oberst in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black
  • in Silver
  • in Gold
• Panzer Badge
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 5 December 1943 as Hauptmann and commander of Panzer-Abteilung 5
  • 425th Oak Leaves on 13 March 1944 as Hauptmann and commander of Panzer-Abteilung 5
• Armband Afrika

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
• Schaulen, Fritjof (2005). Eichenlaubträger 1940 - 1945 Zeitgeschichte in Farbe III Radusch - Zwernemann (in German). Selent, Germany: Pour le Mérite. ISBN 3-932381-22-X.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.

External links

• • Lexikon der Wehrmacht
  • Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945
  • Josef Rettemeier