Helmut Bechler

Helmut Bechler
Born	(1898-06-02)2 June 1898 Grün, Amtshauptmannschaft Auerbach, Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire
Died	9 January 1971(1971-01-09) (aged 72) Kassel, Hesse, West Germany
Allegiance	German Empire Weimar Republic Nazi Germany
Branch	Imperial German Army Freikorps Reichsheer German Army
Service years	1915–1920 1934–1945
Rank	Generalmajor
Unit	16. Königlich Sächsisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 182 (1915–1918)
Commands	173rd Infantry Regiment 504th Grenadier Regiment 85th Infantry Division
Conflicts	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Moscow Battles of Rzhev Battle of Kiev (1943) Kamenets-Podolsky pocket Lvov–Sandomierz Offensive Battle of Hürtgen Forest
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Relations	∞ 1925 Ilse Herrmann (1901–1984); 5 children
Other work	Merchant (1921–1934)

Helmut Bernhard Franz Bechler (2 June 1898 – 9 January 1971) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 85. Infanterie-Division. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.

Promotions

• 10 June 1915: Fahnenjunker (Officer Candidate)
• 30 September 1915: Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier (Officer Candidate with Corporal/NCO/Junior Sergeant rank)
• 3 December 1915: Fähnrich (Officer Cadet)
• 21 October 1916: Leutnant (2nd Liutenant)
• 31.12.1920: Charakter als Oberleutnant (Honorary 1st Lieutenant)
• 15 July 1934: Hauptmann with Rank Seniority (RDA) from 1 February 1934 (63)
• 31 March 1939: Major with RDA from 1 April 1939 (38)
• 18 January 1942: Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) with RDA from 1 February 1942 (183)
• 15 February 1943: Oberst (Colonel) with RDA from 1 December 1942 (60
• 16 February 1945 (telex date): Generalmajor (Major General) with effect and RDA from 30 January 1945

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914), 2nd and 1st Class
  • 2nd Class on 20 July 1916
  • 1st Class on 21 August 1918
• Saxon Albert Order, Knight 2nd Class with Swords (SA3bX/AR2X) on 23 May 1917
• Wound Badge (1918) in Black on 30 September 1918
• Baltic Cross
• Silesian Eagle Order, II. and I. Grade
  • II. Grade on 29 November 1919
  • I. Grade on 30 January 1920
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 on 5 March 1935
• Wehrmacht Long Service Award, 4th Class on 2 October 1936
• West Wall Medal
• Repetition Clasp 1939 to the Iron Cross 1914, 2nd and 1st Class
  • 2nd Class on 8 June 1940
  • 1st Class on 16 June 1940
• Winter Battle in the East 1941–42 Medal on 9 August 1942
• Referenced by name in the Wehrmachtbericht on 2 April 1944
• Wound Badge (1939) in Silver and Gold
  • Silver on 18 April 1944
  • Gold in February 1945
• Infantry Assault Badge in Silver on 3 July 1944
• German Cross in Gold on 20 December 1941 as Major and Commander of the I. Battalion/Infanterie-Regiment 173/87. Infanterie-Division
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 March 1944 as Oberst and Commander of the Grenadier-Regiment 504/291. Infanterie-Division

Sources

• German Federal Archives: BArch PERS 6/1077 and PERS 6/299378

References

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.