Günther Viezenz

Günther Viezenz
180px Günther Viezenz
Born	(1921-02-01)1 February 1921 Göhlenau, Lower Silesia, Weimar Germany
Died	14 January 1999(1999-01-14) (aged 77) Cologne
Allegiance	Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	–1945, 1956–80
Rank	Hauptmann (Wehrmacht) Oberst (Bundeswehr)
Unit	10./GrenRgt 7 in the 252. Infanterie-Division
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Other work	Bundeswehr

Günther Viezenz (1 February 1921 – 14 January 1999) was a highly decorated German Hauptmann in the Wehrmacht. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Viezenz was born in Göhlenau (Golińsk), Province of Lower Silesia

Viezenz is the record-holder of the Tank Destruction Badge. He single handedly destroyed 21 enemy tanks with hand held explosives such as a panzerfaust, satchel charge or hand grenade. He was awarded four Tank Destruction Badges in Gold and one in Silver.

After World War II Viezenz joined the Bundeswehr on April 1, 1956 and retired as Oberst on March 30, 1980. He died in Cologne.

Awards

• Infantry Assault Badge in Silver
• 21 Tank Destruction Badges for Individual Combatants
  • 1 Silver
  • 4 Gold
• Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 7 January 1944 as Oberleutnant and chief of the 10/Grenadier-Regiment 7

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)
• Rottman, Gordon L., Steve Noon, Martin Windrow (2005). World War II Infantry Anti-Tank Tactics. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-842-1.
• 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