Burghardt von Saldern-Wilsnack

Burghardt von Saldern-Wilsnack
Born	9 March 1916 Breslau
Died	6 October 2002(2002-10-06) (aged 86) Wolfratshausen
Allegiance	Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1938–45 1957–72
Rank	Major (Wehrmacht) Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr)
Commands held	II. / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 51 (motorisiert)
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Siege of Leningrad Battle of Smolensk (1943) Operation Bagration
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Burghardt von Saldern-Wilsnack (9 March 1916 – 6 October 2002) was a highly decorated Major in the Wehrmacht during World War II and an Oberstleutnant in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Burghardt von Saldern-Wilsnack was captured by Soviet troops during Operation Bagration in June 1944. He was held in captivity until 1954 and joined the Bundeswehr in 1957 serving until 1972.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze
• Infantry Assault Badge
• Eastern Front Medal
• Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (7 September 1943)
• German Cross in Gold (23 June 1943)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 4 May 1944 as Hauptmann and commander of II. / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 51 (motorisiert)

See also

• House of Saldern

References

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 (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945