Heinz Bretschneider

Heinz Walter Bretschneider
Born	26 March 1913 Meinersdorf
Died	16 March 1971(1971-03-16) (aged 57) Ahlen
Allegiance	Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe (Wehrmacht) Luftwaffe (Bundeswehr)
Years of service	1934–45 ?–1969
Rank	Hauptmann (Wehrmacht) Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr)
Unit	Condor Legion Flak-Regiment 13
Battles/wars	Spanish Civil War World War II Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Siege of Leningrad Vistula–Oder Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Heinz Walter Bretschneider (26 March 1913 – 16 March 1971) was a highly decorated Hauptmann in the Luftwaffe and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Heinz Bretschneider joined the post war Bundeswehr, rising to the rank of Oberstleutnant.

Awards

• Anti-Aircraft Flak Battle Badge
• Ground Assault Badge of the Luftwaffe
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Eastern Front Medal
• German Cross in Gold (9 January 1943)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 3 February 1943 as Oberwachtmeister and Battery officer in the 1./Flak-Regiment 13

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
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945