Date of birth:

April 11th, 1894 (Gabelbach/Bavaria, Germany)

Date of death:

February 25th, 1976 (Rosenheim/Bavaria, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Promotions:
01.08.1914: Gefreiter
01.09.1914: Unteroffizier
15.07.1917: Vizefeldwebel und Offiziers-Anwärter
12.06.1936: Leutnant der Reserve
15.02.1938: Oberleutnant der Reserve
28.01.1939: Hauptmann der Reserve
30.04.1942: Major der Reserve
10.11.1943: Oberstleutnant der Reserve
10.07.1944: Oberst der Reserve

Career:
01.10.1913: 5. Kompanie, 2. bayerischen Infanterie-Regiment "Kronprinz"
05.09.1914: Stabswache des Großen Hauptquartiers
31.07.1917: Ersatz-MG-Kompanie Nr. 5, III. bayerischen Armee-Korps
00.00.1918: 60. MG-Lehrkurs in Hammelburg
28.01.1919: retired
1929 - 1939: Leiter des Schul- und Ausbildungsamtes, deutschen Reichsdruckverein
28.08.1939: Hauptmann, Chef, 11. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 468
18.10.1940: Hauptmann, Chef, 4. MG-Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 438
01.06.1942: Major, Kommandeur, III. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 436
22.10.1942: WIA
23.10.1942: Infanterie-Ersatz-Regiment 112
08.12.1942: Grenadier-Ersatz-Bataillon 437
20.01.1943: Major, Kommandeur, II. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 436
31.08.1943: Major, Kommandeur, Grenadier-Regiment 436
12.07.1944: Oberst, Kommandeur, Grenadier-Regiment 436, 132. Infanterie-Division
- battle for Plusy and Strussto-See
1945 - 1955: Sovjet Krijgsgevangene;
?: Studiendirektor, Traunstein.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1934

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

November 13th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

February 7th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 20th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant der Reserve (Lieutenant-colonel of Reserves)

Unit:

Kdr, Grenadier-Regiment 436

Awarded on:

February 21st, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst der Reserve (Colonel of Reserves)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Grenadier-Regiment 436, 132. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

August 27th, 1944

On the 12.07.1944 the Grenadier-Regiment 437 found itself unable to capture a commanding hill located about 50 km southeast of Dünaburg. The Grenadier-Regiment 436 under the command of Oberst Drexel entered the battle with the mission of closing the gap between the Division and the nearest neighbouring unit southwest of Plusy. In order to achieve this task Oberst Drexel took over the leadership of both Regiments and received a few Sturmgeschütze in support. He then launched a wide flanking maneuver with his units that succeeded in seizing the important hill. Thereafter he continued to press the attack on his own initiative, advancing southwards towards Lake Strussto up until the 19.07.1944. By this action he enabled the higher commands to rescue the soldiers on the heights west of Polozk. Oberst Drexel would later receive the Knight’s Cross for these two important successes.

• Photo 2:
• Photo: - http://www.ritterkreuztraeger.info/rk/d/D196Drexel.pdf
  
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 2000.
  - Josef Anton Drexel - Lexikon der Wehrmacht