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{{Infobox military person
__NOTOC__{{Infobox military person
|name=Theodor Kretschmer
|name=Theodor Kretschmer
|birth_date={{birth date|1901|11|26|df=y}}
|born=26 November 1901
|birth_place=[[Burghaun]], [[German Empire]]
|died={{dda|1986|12|5|1901|11|26|df=y}}
|death_date={{death date and age|1986|12|5|1901|11|26|df=y}}
|placeofbirth=[[Burghaun]]
|placeofdeath=[[Schlitz, Hesse|Schlitz]]
|death_place=[[Schlitz, Hesse|Schlitz]], [[West Germany]]
|image=
|image=
|caption=
|caption=
|nickname=
|nickname=
|allegiance={{flag|Weimar Republic}} (to 1933)<br>{{flag|Nazi Germany}}
|allegiance={{flag|Weimar Republic}}<br/>{{flag|Nazi Germany}}
|branch=[[Heer]]
|branch=[[German Army (Wehrmacht)|Army]]
|serviceyears=1919&ndash;1945
|serviceyears=1919–1945
|rank=[[Generalmajor]]
|rank=[[Generalmajor]]
|commands=[[16th Infantry Division (Germany)|16. Panzer-Division]]<br>[[17th Infantry Division (Germany)|17. Panzer-Division]]
|commands=[[16th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)|16th Panzer Division]]<br/>[[17th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)|17th Panzer Division]]
|unit=
|unit=
|battles=[[World War II]]
|battles=[[World War II]]
*[[Anschluss|Annexation of Austria]]
<!---*[[Anschluss|Annexation of Austria]]
*[[German occupation of Czechoslovakia|Annexation of the Sudetenland]]
*[[German occupation of Czechoslovakia|Annexation of the Sudetenland]]
*[[Battle of France]]
*[[Battle of France]]
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*[[Vistula–Oder Offensive]]
*[[Vistula–Oder Offensive]]
*[[Lower Silesian Offensive]]
*[[Lower Silesian Offensive]]
*[[Upper Silesian Offensive]]
*[[Upper Silesian Offensive]]--->
|awards=[[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]]
|awards=[[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]]
|laterwork=}}
|laterwork=}}


'''Theodor Kretschmer''' (26 November 1901 &ndash; 5 December 1986) was a highly decorated [[Generalmajor]] in the [[Wehrmacht]] during [[World War II]]. 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. Theodor Kretschmer was captured by Soviet troops in May 1945 and was held until 1955.
'''Theodor Kretschmer''' (26 November 1901 5 December 1986) was a general in the [[Wehrmacht]] of [[Nazi Germany]] during [[World War II]]. He was a recipient of the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]].

==Military career==
Kretschmer joined the German Army in 1919 and was commissioned in 1924. After a number of staff positions he briefly became commander of the [[16th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)|16th Panzer-Division]] in late 1944 before taking over as the commander of the [[17th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)|17th Panzer Division]] on 1 February 1945. Kretschmer was promoted to Major General on 1 April 1945. He surrendered his division on 11 May 1945 east of Prague. Convicted in the Soviet Union as a [[war criminal]], he was held until 1955.<ref>Mitcham, p. 141</ref>


==Awards and decorations==
==Awards and decorations==
* [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]] on 8 March 1945 as ''[[Oberst]]'' and commander of 17. Panzer-Division<ref>Fellgiebel 2000, p. 225.</ref>
* [[Anschluss Medal]]
* [[Sudetenland Medal]] with Prague Castle Bar
* [[Blood Order]]
* [[Iron Cross]] (1939)
** 2nd Class
** 1st Class
* [[Honour Roll Clasp of the Army]] (5 March 1945)
* [[German Cross]] in Gold (3 October 1942)
* [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]]
** Knight's Cross on 8 March 1945 as ''[[Oberst]]'' and commander of 17. Panzer-Division<ref>Fellgiebel 2000, p. 225.</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}


==References==
==References==

===Citations===
{{Reflist|25em}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). ''Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945''. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
|last=Fellgiebel
* Scherzer, Veit (2007). ''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.
|first=Walther-Peer
|authorlink=Walther-Peer Fellgiebel
|year=2000
|origyear=1986
|title=Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile
|trans-title=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
|language=German
|location=Friedberg, Germany
|publisher=Podzun-Pallas
|isbn=978-3-7909-0284-6
}}
* {{Cite book
|last1=Mitcham
|first1=Samuel W.
|authorlink1=
|year=2000
|title=The Panzer Legions
|location=United States
|publisher=[[Stackpole Books]]
|isbn=978-0-8117-3353-3
}}
* {{Cite book
|last1=Patzwall
|first1=Klaus D.
|last2=Scherzer
|first2=Veit
|year=2001
|title=Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II
|trans-title=The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2
|language=German
|location=Norderstedt, Germany
|publisher=Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall
|isbn=978-3-931533-45-8
}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


{{s-start}}
==External links==
*[http://www.reocities.com/~orion47/WEHRMACHT/HEER/Generalmajor2/KRETSCHMER_THEODOR.html Theodor Kretschmer @ Reocities]
*[http://www.ww2awards.com/person/10473 World War 2 Awards.com]

{{start box}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-mil}}
{{succession box|
{{succession box|
before=Generalleutnant [[Dietrich von Müller]]|
before=Generalleutnant [[Dietrich von Müller]]|
after=Generalleutnant [[Dietrich von Müller]]|
after=Generalleutnant [[Kurt Treuhaupt]]|
title=Commander of [[16th Infantry Division (Germany)|16. Panzer-Division]]|
title=Commander of [[16th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)|16. Panzer-Division]]|
years=1 December 1944 – 31 January 1945
years=1 December 1944 – 31 January 1945
}}
}}
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before=Oberst [[Albert Brux]]|
before=Oberst [[Albert Brux]]|
after=None|
after=None|
title=Commander of [[17th Panzer Division (Germany)|17. Panzer-Division]]|
title=Commander of [[17th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)|17. Panzer-Division]]|
years=1 February 1945 – 8 May 1945
years=1 February 1945 – 8 May 1945
}}
}}
{{end box}}
{{s-end}}


{{Knight's Cross recipients of the 17th PD}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] -->
{{Subject bar
| NAME = Kretschmer, Theodor
| portal1=Biography
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = German General and Knight's Cross recipients
| DATE OF BIRTH = 26 November 1901
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Burghaun]], [[Germany]]
| DATE OF DEATH = 5 December 1986
| PLACE OF DEATH = [[Schlitz, Hesse|Schlitz]], [[Germany]]
}}
}}


Line 81: Line 102:
[[Category:1901 births]]
[[Category:1901 births]]
[[Category:1986 deaths]]
[[Category:1986 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Hesse]]
[[Category:People from Fulda (district)]]
[[Category:Wehrmacht generals]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Hesse-Nassau]]
[[Category:German military personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Major generals of the German Army (Wehrmacht)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Iron Cross]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Gold German Cross]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Honour Roll Clasp of the Army]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]]
[[Category:Recipients of the German Cross]]
[[Category:German prisoners of war in World War II held by the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Knight's Cross]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Hesse]]
[[Category:German prisoners of war]]
[[Category:World War II prisoners of war held by the Soviet Union]]

Latest revision as of 15:55, 16 September 2024

Theodor Kretschmer
Born(1901-11-26)26 November 1901
Burghaun, German Empire
Died5 December 1986(1986-12-05) (aged 85)
Schlitz, West Germany
Allegiance Weimar Republic
 Nazi Germany
Service / branchArmy
Years of service1919–1945
RankGeneralmajor
Commands16th Panzer Division
17th Panzer Division
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Theodor Kretschmer (26 November 1901 – 5 December 1986) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Military career

[edit]

Kretschmer joined the German Army in 1919 and was commissioned in 1924. After a number of staff positions he briefly became commander of the 16th Panzer-Division in late 1944 before taking over as the commander of the 17th Panzer Division on 1 February 1945. Kretschmer was promoted to Major General on 1 April 1945. He surrendered his division on 11 May 1945 east of Prague. Convicted in the Soviet Union as a war criminal, he was held until 1955.[1]

Awards and decorations

[edit]

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ Mitcham, p. 141
  2. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 225.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • 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.
  • Mitcham, Samuel W. (2000). The Panzer Legions. United States: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3353-3.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
Military offices
Preceded by
Generalleutnant Dietrich von Müller
Commander of 16. Panzer-Division
1 December 1944 – 31 January 1945
Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Kurt Treuhaupt
Preceded by Commander of 17. Panzer-Division
1 February 1945 – 8 May 1945
Succeeded by
None