Wilhelm-Ernst Freiherr von Cramm

Wilhelm-Ernst August Bernhard Adolf Martin Freiherr von Cramm (30 September 1917 – 29 May 1996) was a highly decorated Major in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. After the war he became head of the German Party, a conservative German political party. His brother was Gottfried Freiherr von Cramm, a German amateur era tennis champion and twice French Open champion.

Early life and military career
Von Cramm was born on 30 September 1917 in Brüggen, in the former district of Alfeld of the Province of Hanover, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia. He was the son of Burghard Freiherr von Cramm (1874 – 1936), and his wife Jutta née von Steinberg (1885 – 1972). Von Cramm joined the military service of the Wehrmacht with 3. Schwadron/Kavallerie-Regiment 13 (3rd Squadron of the 13th Cavalry Regiment) on 4 December 1936, three months later on 2 February 1937 he transferred to the 2. Schwadron (2nd Squadron) of the same regiment.

Awards and decorations

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (1 July 1940)
 * 1st Class (10 December 1941)
 * Eastern Front Medal (29 July 1942)
 * General Assault Badge (12 September 1942)
 * German Cross in Gold on 6 December 1943 as Rittmeister in Füsilier-Bataillon 58
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 11 April 1944 as Major and commander Divisions-Füsilier-Abteilung 58