Willi Fey
Willi Fey
|
|
---|---|
File:Willi Fey.jpg | |
Born | 25 September 1918 Lollar, Germany |
Died | 29 April 2002 (aged 83) Freiburg, Germany |
Allegiance | Nazi Germany West Germany |
Service/ |
Heer Waffen-SS Bundeswehr |
Years of service | 1939–45 1956–72 |
Rank | Standartenjunker Hauptmann |
Unit | 52nd Infantry Division 102 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Willi "Wilhelm" Fey (25 September 1918 – 29 April 2002) was a Standartenjunker in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II. Following the war, he served in the Bundeswehr and wrote books on armored warfare.
According to Krätschmer, Fey was nominated for the Knight's Cross by the Kampfgruppe Wilhelm Mohnke during the Battle of Berlin. Fey had been tasked with the leadership of an ad hoc tank hunting group made up of soldiers from the 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland and 33rd Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS Charlemagne (1st French). From 22–29 April 1945, he fought with this group in the area from Köpenicker Straße to the central government district that included the Reich Chancellery and Führerbunker. In combat at the Belle-Alliance-Platz, present-day Mehringplatz, Fey destroyed eight Soviet T-34 tanks with the Panzerfaust, taking his total of tanks destroyed in close combat fighting to 14. For these actions he was awarded the Knight's Cross on 29 April 1945.[1]
Awards
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 April 1945 as SS-Oberscharführer and Panzer commander in the schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 502[2][Note 1][Note 2]
Notes
- ↑ According to Von Seemen as Panzer commander in the schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 502 and leader of a Panzer-Jagdkommando in Berlin.[3]
- ↑ A lawful presentation via the chain of command to the chief of the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) Wilhelm Burgdorf in Berlin submitted nomination is possible. Also possible is a direct presentation by Adolf Hitler. However no evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. The author Veit Scherzer was denied access to files, which could help clarify the case, of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) on the grounds of the Bundesarchivgesetz (German Archive Law). Walther-Peer Fellgiebel wrote in a letter dated 31 August 1976: "...He (Willhelm Fey) after joining the Bundeswehr has request a court of honor against himself. Chairman was our companion recipient of the Oak Leaves former Oberst XXXX (name was made anonymous). This court of honor has accepted him without evidence". The order commission of the AKCR accepted this. Fellgiebel wrote: "...we don't want to claim that we are smarter than the Bundeswehr." Willhelm Fey was a member of the AKCR.[4]
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- Willi Fey in the German National Library catalogue