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Weitkunat, Adolf

Date of birth:
February 7th, 1895 (Grünfließ, Germany)
Date of death:
June 28th, 1988 (Buchholz in der Nordheide, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Rittmeister der Reserve
Unit:
Commander Aufklärungs-Schwadron 206
Awarded on:
November 4th, 1941
Rittmeister der Reserve Weitkunat received the Knight's Cross mainly for his swift capture of the bridge over the Beresa at Mostowaja on the 10.10.1941. The importance of this achievement was that the retreating Soviets in front of the XXIII. Armee-Korps were unable to occupy fortified bunker positions along the Volga, saving the Germans a tough slog through well-built positions. He also made possible the rapid capture of the heavily-defended town of Rzhev against a superior hostile defense shortly afterwards.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major der Reserve (Major of Reserves)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Kampf-Battalion 488
Awarded on:
December 5th, 1943
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Awarded for his successes commanding an ad-hoc infantry Bataillon during the slow retreat of Heeresgruppe Mitte in the summer of 1943. A particularly notable achievement was when his Bataillon recaptured a hotly contested village southwest of Vyazma from the Soviets, and thereafter defeated numerous attacks by tanks and infantry.

346th award

Sources

Photo