Wilhelm Wetzel

Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Wetzel (15 July 1888 – 4 July 1964) was a German officer, finally General of the Infantry in the Wehrmacht of National Socialist Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Promotions

• 19 February 1907 Fahnenjunker (Officer Candidate)
• 11 August 1907 Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier (Officer Candidate with Corporal/NCO/Junior Sergeant rank)
• 18 August 1908 Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant) with Patent from 17 September 1906
• 28 November 1914 Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
• 18 April 1916 Hauptmann (Captain)
• 1 February 1929 Major
• 1 July 1933 Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel)
• 1 June 1935 Oberst (Colonel)
• 30 January 1939 Generalmajor (Major General) with effect and Rank Seniority (RDA) from 1 February 1939 (2)
• 20 November 1940 Generalleutnant (Lieutenant General) with effect and RDA from 1 December 1940 (5)
• 24 January 1942 General der Infanterie (General of the Infantry) with effect from 1 February 1942 and without RDA (ernannt) 28 February 1942 received RDA from 1 March 1942 (4)

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914) 2nd and 1st Class 2nd Class on 15 September 1914 1st Class on 30 April 1915
• Hanseatic Cross of Lübeck (LübH/LüH) on 19 September 1917
• Ducal Anhalt Friedrich Cross (AF/AK) on 4 February 1918
• Wound Badge (1918) in Black on 1 June 1918
• House Order of Hohenzollern, Knight's Cross with Swords (HOH3X) on 1 September 1918
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 with Swords
• Wehrmacht Long Service Award, 4th to 1st Class on 2 October 1936
• Repetition Clasp 1939 to the Iron Cross 1914, 2nd and 1st Class Clasp to EK II on 27 May 1940 Clasp to EK I on 1 July 1940
• German Cross in Gold on 26 December 1941
• Winter Battle in the East 1941–42 Medal on 1 August 1942
• Kuban Shield
• Romanian Order of Michael the Brave, 3rd Class on 3 March 1943
• War Victory Cross, 2nd Class with Swords
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 7 August 1942 as General der Infanterie and Commanding General of V. Armeekorps
• Loyalty Pin (Treuenadel) of the Association of German Soldiers (VdS) on 25 May 1960 for 10 years of loyal membership

Citations

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.