Date of birth:

March 8th, 1918 (Mehlsack/Eastern Prussia, Germany)

Date of death:

March 10th, 1944 (Buczacz/Ternopil Oblast, Soviet Union)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Willy wichert died of his wounds on 10th March 1944 at Buczacz, south of Ternopil, Soviet Union as Kommandeur 1. / Grenadier-Regiment 505.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

6. / Grenadier-Regiment 506

Awarded on:

February 14th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)

Unit:

Chef 3. / Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 291

Awarded on:

November 6th, 1943

The following newspaper article (dated 02.05.1944) describes why Wichert received the Knight’s Cross…

“Heroic Death of a Knight’s Cross Holder:

Hauptmann der Reserve Willi Wichert… received the Knight’s Cross following his actions north of Kiev during October of the previous year. Here he led his East Prussian Füsilier Bataillon deep into the flank of an enemy group that had penetrated our lines. They broke the enemy’s fierce resistance and were able to inflict high losses in men and materiel on the enemy. The brave Knight’s Cross Holder died a hero’s death during March of this year.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Igor Poul
• - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
  - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X
  - Stadtanzeiger für Castrop-Rauxel und Umgebung