Friedrich Wilhelm Dernen

Wilhelm Dernen
Birth name	Friedrich Wilhelm Dernen
Birth date	15 February 1884(1884-02-15)
Place of birth	Cologne, Rhine Province, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Death date	15 February 1967 (aged 83)
Place of death	Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Hessen, West Germany
Resting place	Evangelic Cemetery Bad Homburg (Field A 26, Grave 16/17)
Allegiance	German Empire National Socialist Germany
Service/branch	Prussian Army Imperial German Army Heer
Years of service	1907–1918 1935–1945
Rank	Generalmajor der Reserve
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Pour le Mérite German Cross in Gold
Relations	∞ Margarete "Grete" Friedrich (1901–1990); 2 daughters

Friedrich Wilhelm "Willi" Dernen (sometimes wrongly Friedrich-Wilhelm; 15 February 1884 – 15 February 1967) was a German officer since 1914, finally Generalmajor der Reserve of the Wehrmacht in World War II and Knight of the order Pour le Mérite. He must not be confused with Generalleutnant Friedrich "Fritz" Dernen (1854–1938), son-in-law of General der Infanterie Julius von Bergmann.

Life

Dernen enlisted in the Prussian Army after his Abitur as an Einjährig-Freiwilliger (one-year volunteer) on 1 October 1907. He became a member of the 2. Badisches Grenadier-Regiment "Kaiser Wilhelm I." Nr. 110 stationed in Mannheim. On 30 September 1908, he was discharged from military service to the reserve. He then completed his studies at university.

With the outbreak of the First World War, Dernen was reactivated and reported to his regiment for duty. He was deployed as a Zugführer (platoon leader) and fought at Mulhouse, in the Battle of the Frontiers, and later in northern France at Bauvin, Vermelles, and Loos. On 10 November 1914, he was wounded. After becoming Kompanieführer (company leader), he took part in the Second Battle of Artois. Thereafter, Dernen fought in the autumn offensive in Champagne and the Battle of the Somme. In September 1917, he took part in the storming of the Fort of Vaux. He took part in the Battle of Cambrai at the end of 1917. During Operation "Michael" he again successfully led his company. He then took part in the Second Battle of the Marne, and proved himself again in Chemin des Dames. On 29 August 1918, Dernen was awarded the Pour le Mérite.

The award was for the defensive battle between Reims and Soissons, beginning on July 18, 1918. On July 18, 1918, Leutnant d.R. Dernen and his company completely fended off two enemy attacks south of Soissons near Parcy-Tigny and maintained his position. On July 19, the 3. / GR 110 again held its position against repeated enemy attacks, which also took place with tank support and in twentyfold numerical superiority. Only when the enemy was sitting 600 m to the right of the company in the rear, there was no longer any contact to the left of the adjoining company and all machine gun ammunition (25,000 rounds) had been used up was the order to withdraw given. In the new position, Lieutenant Dernen was again able to withstand superior enemy attacks on the same day and the following day.

After the end of WWI, and the repatriation to the Vaterland and the demobilization of his regiment, he was commissioned on 6 December 1918 with the Charakter as Oberleutnant der Reserve from active military service. In the following years he was a commercial clerk at BASF in Ludwigshafen am Rhein . From 19 August to 15 September 1935, he underwent training for soldiers in the reserve. Dernen took part in this training as a company commander in the battalion staff of the 26th Infantry Regiment in Flensburg.

On 1 January 1936, he was taken back into reserve service as Hauptmann der Reserve. Shortly afterwards, Dernen was promoted to Major der Reserve on 1 August 1936 . On 27 August 1939, the anniversary of the Battle of Tannenberg, he was awarded the Charakter as Oberstleutnant a. D..

At the beginning of World War II, on 2 September 1939, he was called up to serve with the staff of the 15th Infantry Replacement Regiment. On 5 October 1939, Dernen was appointed commander of the 3rd battalion of the 88th Infantry Regiment, which was then on the French border, to secure the Westwall. On 29 January 1940, he was taken to a field hospital (Lazarett) because of illness. Subsequently he was transferred to the Infanterie-Ersatz-Bataillon 88 transferred, and appointed commander of this unit on 11 April 1940. Two months later, he was appointed commander of the 1st battalion of the 550th Infantry Regiment. From 1 August 1940 to 14 October 1940, he functioned as training leader of the 159. Infanterie-Division. He was subsequently commander of the 3rd battalion of the 36th Infantry Regiment. On 17 January 1942, he handed over his command and was taken to a field hospital due to illness. From 17 January 1942 to 11 May 1942, he was placed in the Führerreserve of the Wehrkreis-Kommando IX .

After his recovery, Dernen was appointed commander of the Infanterie-Ersatz-Bataillon 9. On 27 September 1942, he was appointed commander of the Grenadier-Ersatz-Regiment 9. He was promoted to Oberst der Reserve on 1 December 1942. As of 16 May 1943, he was placed in the staff of the 90. Panzergrenadier-Division. In the following time, Dernen was commander of Festungs-Brigade Sardinia. From 16 August 1943, he was placed in the Führerreserve (OKH) and was at the same time Militärbefehlshaber Belgien-Nordfrankreich (Military Commander Belgium-Northern France). He was also trained as a field commander. On 7 December 1943, Dernen was charged with the representation of the Feldkommandant Mont-de-Marsan. On 8 February 1944, Dernen was assigned as field commander to the commander-in-chief of the Heeresgruppe G (Army Group G) in southern France, and was shortly afterwards appointed Feldkommandeur 563 (Feldkommandantur 563). In that position, he became at the same time Kampfkommandant of Montpellier (Invasion of Normandy).

On 19 October 1944, Dernen was charged with leadership (mit der Führung beauftragt) of the 159. Infanterie-Division . On 1 December 1944, he became simultaneously the commander and was promoted to Generalmajor der Reserve. On 11 December 1944, he handed over his command to Generalmajor Heinrich Bürcky, was relieved due to illness and placed in the Führerreserve. On 17 January 1945, he was appointed commander of the Fortress Olmütz (Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia). Due to severe illness on 22 January 1945, he did not take up command and was taken to a military hospital on 25 January 1945. In September 1945, Dernen became an American prisoner of war. In February 1948, he was again released from captivity.

Promotions

• 1 October 1907 Einjährig-Freiwilliger (one-year volunteer
• 17 February 1914 Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of the Reserves)
• 6 December 1918 Character als Oberleutnant der Reserve (Honorary 1st Lieutenant of the Reserves)
• 1 January 1936 Hauptmann der Reserve (Captain of the Reserves)
• 1 August 193 Major der Reserve (Major of the Reserves)
• 27 August 1939 Character als Oberstleutnant a. D. (Honorary Lieutenant Colonel, Retired); Tannenbergtag
• 29 March 1940 Character als Oberstleutnant z. V. (Brevet Lieutenant Colonel at Disposal)
• 1 April 1941 Oberstleutnant z. V. (active Lieutenant Colonel at Disposal)
• 1 April 1942 Oberstleutnant der Reserve z. V. (Lieutenant Colonel of the Reserves at Disposal)
• 1 December 1942 Oberst der Reserve (Colonel of the Reserves)
• 1 December 1944 Generalmajor der Reserve (Major General of the Reserves)

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914), 2nd and 1st Class
• Baden Order of the Zähringer Lion (Orden vom Zähringer Löwen), Knight's Cross 2nd Class with Swords (BZ3b⚔) on 19 August 1915
• Military Karl Friedrich Merit Order, Knight's Cross on 13 November 1916
• Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Knight's Cross with Swords on 31 January 1918
• Wound Badge (1918) in Black
• Pour le Mérite on 29 August 1918 as Leutnant der Reserve and Leader (Führer) of the 3. Kompanie/2. Badisches Grenadier-Regiment „Kaiser Wilhelm I.“ Nr. 110/28. Infanterie-Division
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 with Swords on 14 January 1935
• Repetition Clasp 1939 to the Iron Cross 1914, 2nd and 1st Class
  • 2nd Class on 26 June 1940
  • 1st Class on 25 June 1941
• Wound Badge (1939) in Silver on 8 November 1941
• German Cross in Gold on 10 January 1942 as Oberstleutnant z. V. and Commander of the III. Bataillon/Infanterie-Regiment 36
• Infantry Assault Badge in Silver on 20 August 1942
• Winter Battle in the East 1941–42 Medal on 7 September 1942

Sources

• German Federal Archives: BArch PERS 6/299548

External links

• Dernen, Friedrich Wilhelm, ww2gravestone.com