Theodor Kretschmer

Theodor Kretschmer
Born	(1901-11-26)26 November 1901 Burghaun, German Empire
Died	5 December 1986(1986-12-05) (aged 85) Schlitz, West Germany
Allegiance	Weimar Republic  Nazi Germany
Service / branch	Army
Years of service	1919–1945
Rank	Generalmajor
Commands	16th Panzer Division 17th Panzer Division
Battles / wars	World War II
Awards	Knight'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

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

• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 8 March 1945 as Oberst and commander of 17. Panzer-Division[2]

References

Citations

1. Mitcham, p. 141
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 225.

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 [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 Oberst Albert Brux	Commander of 17. Panzer-Division 1 February 1945 – 8 May 1945	Succeeded by None