Ludwig Weißmüller

Ludwig Weißmüller (1915–1943) was a German officer during the Second World War. He was posthumely awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on August 18, 1943

Biography
Ludwig Weissmuller was born in Metz, Alsace-Lorraine, on March 31, 1915. Weissmuller joined the German Army straight from school. Weissmuller began a brilliant career in the Wehrmacht. After various assignments in France and Poland, Weissmuller was assigned to fight on the Eastern front with the 262nd Infanterie-Division. Under the command of General Edgar Theißen, Ludwig Weissmuller was promoted to First Lieutenant. Then, he was promoted Captain in July 1943, under the command of General Friedrich Karst.

As Kommandeur, Ludwig Weissmuller commanded the 2nd Battalion of the 462nd Grenadier-Regiment. His military unit fought in Poland, and in 1941 was heavily engaged in the central sector of the Russian front. Captain Weissmuller was killed in action in Ljadzo, during the Battle of Nikolskoje, on August 18, 1943. Ludwig Weissmuller was posthumely awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on August 18, 1943. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross principally was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II.

Decorations

 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 August 1943.