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Kessel, Wilhelm (Pz-Aufklär.Abt. "GD")

Date of birth:
March 6th, 1915 (Dortmund-Husen, Germany)
Date of death:
November 3rd, 2002 (Bergkamen, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberwachtmeister
Unit:
Zugführer 3./Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung "GD"
Awarded on:
February 23rd, 1944
On the 05.10.1943, during the fighting around Krivoi Rog, Oberwachtmeister Kessel and the handful of men from his Zug conquered a commanding height along the Dnieper river near Ssokolowo. Despite being badly wounded during the assault, Kessel remained in command of his unit and with it held the hill against multiple Soviet efforts to recapture it. For this brave act he would be awarded the Knight’s Cross.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

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