Walter Wessel Explained

Walter Wessel
Birth Date:	21 April 1892
Birth Place:	German Empire
Death Place:	Morano, Italy
Allegiance:
Branch:	Army
Serviceyears:	1912–43
Rank:	Generalleutnant
Commands:	12th Panzer Division
Known For:	Ciepielów massacre
Battles:	World War II
Awards:	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Walter Wessel (21 April 1892 – 20 July 1943) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II who commanded the 12th Panzer Division. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. Wessel was responsible for the Ciepielów massacre in Poland. He was killed in an auto accident on 20 July 1943 near Morano, Italy.^[1]

Awards and decorations

• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 15 August 1940 as Oberst and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 15 (mot.)^[2]
  • 76th Oak Leaves on 17 February 1942 as Oberst and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 15 (mot.)^[3]

References

Bibliography

• Book: Fellgiebel , Walther-Peer . Walther-Peer Fellgiebel

. Walther-Peer Fellgiebel . 2000 . 1986 . Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile . The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches . German . Friedberg, Germany . Podzun-Pallas . 978-3-7909-0284-6.

• Book: Thomas , Franz . 1998 . Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z . The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z . German . Osnabrück, Germany . Biblio-Verlag . 978-3-7648-2300-9.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Wessel, Walter - TracesOfWar.com. www.tracesofwar.com.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 360.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 53.