Erwin Franz Roestel

Who was Erwin Franz Roestel?

Erwin Franz Rudolf Roestel was an Obersturmbannführer 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.

Roestel was born in Görlitz, Silesia. Prior to joining the SS he was a Hauptmann in the Heer, being awarded the Iron Cross I & II class, the Eastern Front Medal for service on the Eastern Front during the first Russian winter of the war 1941/42, and the German Cross as the commander of a Sturmgeschütz Battalion.

He transferred to the 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg in 1943, as the commander of the 10th Sturmgeschütz Battalion and was awarded the Knight's Cross on 28 March 1945. He remained with the Sturmgeschütz Battalion until taking over command of the 10th SS Panzerjäger Battalion in April 1945, and later the same month he took over command of the Division until they surrendered on 8 May 1945.

Roestel survived the war and died on 24 November 1974 in Regensburg.