| Wilhelm Ahrens | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | "Willi" |
| Born | October 1, 1912 |
| Died | 26 August 1998 (aged 85) |
| Place of birth | Goslar |
| Place of death | Gummersbach |
| Allegiance |
 Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany |
| Service/branch | Heer |
| Years of service |
1931–1945 1956–1970 |
| Rank |
Hauptmann (Wehrmacht) Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr) |
| Commands held | III.(Jäger)/Grenadier-Regiment 17 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Wilhelm "Willi" Ahrens (1 October 1912 – 26 August 1998) was a highly decorated Hauptmann in the Wehrmacht during World War II and an Oberstleutnant in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. After the war Wilhelm Ahrens joined the Bundeswehr and retired in 1970.
Awards and decorations[]
- Iron Cross (1939)
- Wound Badge (1939)
- in Black
- Infantry Assault Badge
- Eastern Front Medal
- Honour Roll Clasp of the Army
- German Cross in Gold on 14 April 1942 as Oberleutnant in the 9./Infanterie-Regiment 17[2]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 22 February 1944 as Hauptmann and commander of III.(Jäger)/Grenadier-Regiment 17[3]
References[]
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 (in German). Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
- Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941–1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall (in German). ISBN 3-931533-45-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.
- Thomas, Franz and Wegmann, Günter (1987). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil III: Infanterie Band 1: A–Be (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 3-7648-1153-6.
External links[]
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