Willy Riedel

Who was Willy Riedel?

Willy Riedel was a highly decorated Major in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He was severely wounded in early 1943 by a grenade splinter and taken prisoner of war by the Soviet Army.

After World War II he joined the military service of east Germany in the Kasernierte Volkspolizei, the military units of the Volkspolizei in the German Democratic Republic. Riedel commanded the 6. motorisierte Schützendivision of the Nationale Volksarmee from 30 October 1956 to 31 December 1957.