Josef Bremm
Josef Bremm | |
---|---|
Born |
Mannebach, Vulkaneifel | 3 May 1914
Died |
21 October 1998 84) Monreal | (aged
Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
Service/branch | Heer |
Years of service | 1935–45 |
Rank | Oberstleutnant |
Unit |
126. Infanterie-Division 712. Infanterie-Division |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords |
Josef Benedikt Bremm (3 May 1914 – 21 October 1998) was a German Officer, serving during World War II. He is noted for being the last recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Career
Josef Bremm was born in Mannebach, Vulkaneifel on 3 May 1914. He joined the military service in the Wehrmacht on 1 November 1935 and spent two years as a Unteroffizier (sergeant) in Infanterie-Regiment 7 (7th infantry regiment) before he was discharged as an Unteroffizier in the military reserve. He was promoted to Leutnant of the reserves in 1938 and was listed with Infanterie-Regiment 425 (425th infantry regiment).[1]
Awards
- Iron Cross (1939)
- Infantry Assault Badge (13 November 1941)[3]
- Wound Badge
- Eastern Front Medal (25 July 1942)[3]
- Tank Destruction Badge for Individual Combatants[1]
- Close Combat Clasp in Bronze (1 July 1943)[3]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
- Knight's Cross on 18 February 1942 as Leutnant of the Reserves and chief of the 5./Infanterie-Regiment 426[4][5][6]
- 165th Oak Leaves on 23 December 1942 as Oberleutnant of the Reserves and chief of the 5./Grenadier-Regiment 426[4][7][8]
- 159th Swords on 9 May 1945 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Grenadier-Regiment 990[9][10][Notes 1]
Notes
- ↑ Josef Bremm's nomination by the troop was rejected by Major Joachim Domaschk on 30 April 1945 and instead recommended for the German Cross in Gold. Just like all other nominations, which at this point in time were related to members of the 11. Armee, the nomination was not further processed since the 11. Armee had capitulated on 21 April 1945 and presentations to prisoners of war or missing in action were prohibited. In all other instances of similar circumstances a note on the nomination can be found stating: "postpone AOK 11" or "postpone according to AHA 44 Ziff. 572". The entry date noted on the nomination list for the higher grades of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross is 28 April 1945. The list indicates a note "deferred". The Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) claims that the award was presented in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The sequential number "159" was assigned by the AKCR. The presentation date was assigned by Walther-Peer Fellgiebel. Bremm was member of the AKCR.[11]
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Berger, Florian (1999). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges [With Oak Leaves and Swords. The Highest Decorated Soldiers of the Second World War] (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-0-6.
- 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.
- 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.
- Von Seemen, Gerhard (1976). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 : die Ritterkreuzträger sämtlicher Wehrmachtteile, Brillanten-, Schwerter- und Eichenlaubträger in der Reihenfolge der Verleihung : Anhang mit Verleihungsbestimmungen und weiteren Angaben [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 : The Knight's Cross Bearers of All the Armed Services, Diamonds, Swords and Oak Leaves Bearers in the Order of Presentation: Appendix with Further Information and Presentation Requirements] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7909-0051-4.
- Thomas, Franz; Wegmann, Günter (1993). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil III: Infanterie Band 3: Br–Bu [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part III: Infantry Volume 3: Br–Bu] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-1734-3.
- Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.