Wilhelm Schröder

Wilhelm Schröder (7 July 1896 – 17 July 1979) was a highly decorated Oberst in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). 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 (1914)
 * 2nd Class (16 August 1917)
 * 1st Class (17 June 1924)
 * Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (30 January 1935)
 * Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th to 2nd Class (2 October 1936)
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (10 October 1939)
 * 1st Class (20 November 1943)
 * War Merit Cross with Swords
 * 2nd Class (30 January 1943)
 * 1st Class (1 September 1943)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 26 March 1944 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Grenadier-Regiment 580
 * 779th Oak Leaves on 13 March 1945 as Oberst and commander of Kampfgruppe Schröder of the 408. Infanterie-Division