Josef Rettemeier Military person

Josef-Wilhelm Rettemeier (17 September 1914 – 19 December 1997) was a highly decorated Oberst in the Wehrmacht during World War II and an Oberst in the Bundeswehr. 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.Rettemeier was commissioned as a Leutnant in 1936, and was assigned to the Panzertruppe. After the outbreak of WWII, he saw combats in France, North Africa and the Eastern Front, assuming command of company and battalion-sized formations. He was also in charge of an training unit for Panther tank drivers and officer candidates in the fall of 1944.Rettemeier once worked in the steel industry before joining the Bundeswehr in 1956, leading panzer regiments and brigades, then served as X.O. in panzer and jäger divisions. After his retirement in 1972, Rettemeier came to Taiwan as the member of "Ming-teh-Gruppe", a German military advisory group. During his assignment in Taiwan, Rettemeier aided the creation and training for armored troops of the Republic of China Army. He died at Bad Nauheim in 1997.

Personal facts

Josef Rettemeier
Birth dateSeptember 17, 1914
Birth place
Germany , Siegburg
Date of deathDecember 19, 1997
Place of death
Germany , Bad Nauheim

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Military person

allegianceNazi Germany
award
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
military operations
North African Campaign
World War II
Battle of France
Battle of Smolensk (1943)
Battle of Gazala
military branch
Bundeswehr
German Army (1935–45)
military commandPanzer-Abteilung 5
service start1934
service end1934

Josef Rettemeier on Wikipedia

External resources

  1. http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/R/RettemeierJ.htm
  2. http://www.ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.de/Infanterie/Heer-Startseite.htm
  3. http://www.schifbenger.com/pzbtl/rettemeier/rettem_index.html