Walter von Wietersheim

Walter von Wietersheim
Birth date	29 November 1917(1917-11-29)
Place of birth	Barzdorf, Lower Silesia, German Empire
Death date	19 January 2002 (aged 84)
Place of death	Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia, FRG
Allegiance	National Socialist Germany West Germany
Service/branch	Heer Bundeswehr (Heer)
Years of service	1936–45
Rank	Major (Wehrmacht) Major d. R. (Bundeswehr)
Commands held	II. Abteilung/Panzer-Regiment „Großdeutschland“
Battles/wars	World War II Poland Campaign Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Jassy–Kishinev Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Walter Wolfram von Wietersheim (29 November 1917 – 19 January 2002) was a German officer of the Wehrmacht, at last Major and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in World War II as well as reserve officer (Major der Reserve) of the Bundeswehr and successful insurance director (Versicherungsdirektor) in the post-war time.

Life

Walter von Wietersheim joined the Wehrmacht on 6 April 1936 as Fahnenjunker and served as a Leutnant in the 15th Panzer Regiment under the later Generalleutnant Johannes Streich since 1 January 1938. The regiment took part in the occupation of Bohemia and Moravia in March 1939. He fought in Poland and during the Western Campaign within the 5. Panzer-Division. Effective 1 June 1940, he was promoted to Oberleutnant. He took part in the Eastern Campaign and was transferred to the Panzer-Abteilung 18 (the former II. Abteilung/Panzer-Regiment 18) in May 1942, where he became commander of the 2nd Company. From the spring of 1943 he served in the Panzer-Regiment "Großdeutschland", first under Colonel Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Groß-Zauche und Camminetz, then Colonel Otto Büsing and finally Colonel Willy Langkeit. At first, von Wietersheim became leader, later commander of the II. Abteilung (2nd tank battalion). After receiving the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, he was promoted to Major with effect and rank seniority from 1 February 1944.

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

On the morning of 8 March 1944, the Soviets launched a heavy attack against the Panzergrenadier-Division "Großdeutschland" in the area west of Kirovograd. At the time, von Wietersheim commanded an Abteilung of Panzer IVs. The Division was relatively weak at the time, and it fought desperately to hold the Soviets back. During the fighting on this day, von Wietersheim's Panzers played a decisive role in the German defensive successes, even successfully taking on Soviet IS-2 tanks. Von Wietersheim's Panzers played a key role in preventing a Soviet breakthrough in this area and enabling a new German defensive line to be built west of Jassy. On this day his Abteilung also destroyed 14 enemy tanks, 6 anti-tank guns and 2 artillery pieces. For this outstanding achievement he was awarded the Knight's Cross by the Führer.

Final battle

In the final battle for the Reich, von Wietersheim led his own Kampfgruppe (battle group), named after him. It fought alongside a Jäger regiment of the former "Brandenburg" division (subordinated to the Panzer Corps "Großdeutschland") in East Saxony-Lower Silesia (Görlitz area).

Family

Walter von Wietersheim is often mentioned in the same breath as sword-bearer Generalleutnant Wend von Wietersheim and his older brother Mark von Wietersheim (member of the Prussian state parliament and district administrator in Silesia), whose father, head of department and owner of the Neuland manor (Rittergut Neuland), was also named Walter von Wietersheim (1863- 1919). The degree of relationship is unclear. Whether General der Infanterie Gustav Anton von Wietersheim from Breslau, recipient of the Knight's Cross, was a direct relative cannot be determined with certainty either. Major Hans-Wolf von Wietersheim (20 April 1911 – 29 October 1991) and Colonel Georg-Paul von Wietersheim (15 September 1898 – 28 June 1960) are also noted, but here too the relationship is unclear.

Awards and decorations

• Sudetenland Medal (Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938)
• Iron Cross (1939), 2nd and 1st Class
  • 2nd Class (26 May 1940)
  • 1st Class (10 July 1940)
• Panzer Badge (Panzerkampfabzeichen des Heeres) in Silver
• Eastern Front Medal
• Wound Badge (Verwundetenabzeichen 1939) in Black
• German Cross in Gold on 11 February 1943 as Hauptmann and Chef der 2. Kompanie/Panzer-Abteilung 18
• Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (Ehrenblattspange des Heeres) on 27 December 1943
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 15 May 1944 as Hauptmann and commander of II. Abteilung/Panzer-Regiment „Großdeutschland“/Panzergrenadier-Division „Großdeutschland“/4. Rumänische Armee/Armeegruppe Wöhler/Heeresgruppe Südukraine