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Wimmer, Friedrich Wilhelm

Date of birth:
December 27th, 1912 (Hilden/Rhine Province, Germany)
Date of death:
July 5th, 1986 (Solingen/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Unteroffizier (Junior Officer)
Unit:
8./J.R. 412
Awarded on:
September 1st, 1942
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)
Unit:
8./Gren.-Rgt. 412
Awarded on:
February 1st, 1943
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)
Unit:
Zugführer 8. / Grenadier-Regiment 412 / 227. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
September 9th, 1944
Nahkampfspange in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)
Unit:
Zugführer 8. / Grenadier-Regiment 412 / 227. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
September 30th, 1944
The following newspaper article (dated 08.11.1944) describes why Wimmer received the Knight’s Cross…

“Rhine-Westphalian Grenadiers in the Fighting for Pskov - The Award of the Knight’s Cross to Oberfeldwebel Wimmer:

During the bitter fighting southwest of Pskov the position of a Grenadier-Zug under the command of Oberfeldwebel Friedrich Wimmer (born in Hilden on the 27.12.1912) came under attack by a whole battalion. However, thanks to the prudent leadership of the brave Oberfeldwebel, the Bolsheviks were bloodily repulsed every time they came forth.

After this the Bolsheviks stormed against this sector with every intent to achieve a breakthrough, even sending in a whole Regiment for this purpose. Despite this they were unable to achieve a penetration in Oberfeldwebel Wimmer’s defensive line. However suddenly Wimmer noticed that the Soviets had broken through the main battle line in the sector of the left neighbouring unit. He at once perceived the danger that this posed for his flank, and so he took 3 Grenadiers from his own hard-pressed defenses and commenced a counterthrust against a broken-in enemy battalion. The unthinkable happened following unimaginably brutal close combat. He cleared the trenches of the enemy and succeeded in reaching the old main battle line. This singularly heroic achievement prevented an enemy breakthrough here. The Führer thus awarded him the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)
Unit:
Zugführer 8. / Grenadier-Regiment 412 / 227. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
November 27th, 1944
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)
Unit:
8./ G.R. 412
Awarded on:
April 8th, 1943

Awarded for a wound inflicted on the 12th of January 1943
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Unteroffizier (Junior Officer)
Unit:
8.Komp./Inf.Rgt. 412
Awarded on:
October 10th, 1942
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)
Unit:
8./ G.R. 412
Awarded on:
October 7th, 1943
Nahkampfspange in Bronze
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)
Unit:
8./Gr.Rgt. 412
Awarded on:
March 31st, 1944
Nahkampfspange in Silber

Sources

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