Wilhelm-Ernst Freiherr von Cramm

Wilhelm-Ernst Freiherr von Cramm
Born (1917-09-30)30 September 1917
Brüggen
Died 29 May 1996(1996-05-29) (aged 78)
Oelber am weißen Wege
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Heer
Years of service 1936–45
Rank Major
Commands held Divisions-Füsilier-Abteilung 58
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Relations Gottfried von Cramm (brother)
Other work politician

Wilhelm-Ernst August Bernhard Adolf Martin Freiherr von Cramm[Note 1] (30 September 1917 – 29 May 1996) was a highly decorated Major in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was 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 recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. After the war he became head of the German Party, a conservative German political party. His brother was Gottfried Freiherr von Cramm, a German amateur era tennis champion and twice French Open champion.

Early life and military career

Cramm was born on 30 September 1917 in Brüggen, in the former district of Alfeld of the Province of Hanover, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia. He was a younger son of Burghard Freiherr von Cramm (1874–1936), by his marriage to Jutta von Steinberg (1885–1972). On 4 December 1936 Cramm joined the military service of the Wehrmacht and was attached to 3. Schwadron/Kavallerie-Regiment 13 (the 3rd Squadron of the 13th Cavalry Regiment), and three months later, on 2 February 1937, he transferred to the 2. Schwadron (2nd Squadron) of the same regiment.[1]

Awards and decorations

Notes

  1. ↑ Regarding personal names: Freiherr is a former title (translated as Baron), which is now legally a part of the last name. The feminine forms are Freifrau and Freiin.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Thomas & Wegmann 1998, p. 97.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Thomas & Wegmann 1998, p. 98.
  3. ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 76.
  4. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 155, 489.
  5. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 263.

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. 
  • 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. 
  • 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. 
  • Thomas, Franz; Wegmann, Günter (1998). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil III: Infanterie Band 4: C–Dow [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part III: Infantry Volume 4: C–Dow] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2534-8. 
Political offices
Preceded by
Herbert Schneider		 National Chairman of the German Party
1962 – 1963 		Succeeded by
Adolf Meyer-Ravenstein
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