Willy Riedel

Willy Riedel (10 November 1909 – 10 February 1982) was a highly decorated Major in the Wehrmacht during World War II. 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. He was severely wounded in early 1943 by a grenade splinter and taken prisoner of war by the Soviet Army.

After World War II he joined the military service of east Germany in the Kasernierte Volkspolizei (Barracked People's Police), the military units of the Volkspolizei (police) in the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). Riedel commanded the 6. motorisierte Schützendivision of the Nationale Volksarmee (National People's Army) from 30 October 1956 to 31 December 1957.

Awards and decorations

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (13 November 1939)
 * 1st Class (3 July 1940)
 * German Cross in Gold on 30 May 1942 as Hauptmann in the III./Infanterie-Regiment 524
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 8 October 1942 as Hauptmann and commander of the III./Infanterie-Regiment 524
 * 186th Oak Leaves on 25 January 1943 as Hauptmann and commander of the III./Grenadier-Regiment 524