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Betzel, Clemens

    Date of birth:
    June 9th, 1895 (Ulm/Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
    Date of death:
    March 27th, 1945 (Danzig, Germany)
    Buried on:
    German War Graves Gdansk
    Plot: 1A. Row: 1. Grave: 9.
    Nationality:
    German

    Biography

    Again in service with the Wehrmacht from August 25th 1939.

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    September 24th, 1939
    1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    October 11th, 1939
    1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberst (Colonel)
    Unit:
    Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 103
    Awarded on:
    March 11th, 1943

    Award 326/35
    Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    September 19th, 1943

    2133rd Award
    Anerkennungsurkunde des Oberbefehlshabers des Heeres
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Generalmajor (Brigadier)
    Unit:
    Kommandeur, 4. Panzer-Division, Heer
    Awarded on:
    September 5th, 1944
    The following wartime excerpt describes why Betzel was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

    “On the 03.07.1944 Generalmajor Betzel and his Division launched a swift attack towards the north via Nieswiec that succeeded in capturing Horodciez and then carrying on beyond this place up to Stolpce. Through this they enabled the 12. Panzer-Division to capture the southern bank of the river near Stolpce and hold open the crossings there.”

    3558th Heer Award.
    Submitted on August 25th 1944.
    Preliminary document dated on September 15th 1944.
    Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    November 3rd, 1944
    Wehrmachtbericht
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Generalleutnant (Major-general)
    Unit:
    Kommandeur, 4. Panzer-Division, Heer
    Awarded on:
    March 11th, 1945
    RK

    The following wartime excerpt describes why Betzel was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

    “On the 03.07.1944 Generalmajor Betzel and his Division launched a swift attack towards the north via Nieswiec that succeeded in capturing Horodciez and then carrying on beyond this place up to Stolpce. Through this they enabled the 12. Panzer-Division to capture the southern bank of the river near Stolpce and hold open the crossings there.”

    EL

    The following wartime excerpt describes why Betzel was awarded the Oakleaves…

    “Generalleutnant Betzel was majorly involved in his Division’s success in preventing the breakthrough attempts by strong Soviet forces in West Prussia. Within 5 days the 4. Panzer-Division eliminated 113 tanks and 41 heavy anti-tank guns. During this time the divisional commander constantly led from the front at the decisive points of the battle, and is thus inextricably implicated in its success. From January to March 1945 his Division was deployed in the areas around Schwetz-Tucheler Moor, Bütow and Karthaus.”

    774th Award.
    Submitted on February 28th 1945.
    Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

    Sources

    Photo