Bio of Major Willi Riedel (1909-1982)

Wilhelm "Willi" Riedel (Sometimes spelled Willy Riedel)

Date of Birth: 10.11.1909 - Liegnitz, Niederschlesien (German Empire)
Date of Death: 10.02.1982 - Potsdam, Brandenburg (East Germany)

Promotions:
00.00.1935 Wachtmeister
00.00.1940 Oberleutnant
01.02.1942 Hauptmann
25.01.1943 Major (mit wirkung vom 01.12.1942)

Career:
00.00.1929 Polizei
26.08.1939 Zugführer in 12.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 372 / 239.Infanterie-Division
00.00.1942 Kommandeur III.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 524 / 297.Infanterie-Division
28.01.1943 POW in the Battle of Stalingrad
00.00.1944 Joined the Nationalkomitee Freies Deutschland

Awards and Decorations:
00.00.19__ Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung, IV. Klasse
13.11.1939 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
03.07.1940 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.194_ Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
00.00.194_ Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz
00.00.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
30.05.1942 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
08.10.1942 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Hauptmann and Kommandeur III.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 524 / 297.Infanterie-Division
25.01.1943 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #186, as Hauptmann and Kommandeur III.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 524 / 297.Infanterie-Division

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Willy Riedel (10 November 1909 – 10 February 1982), the son of an electrician, was born on 10 November 1909 in Liegnitz, at the time in the Province of Lower Silesia, present-day Legnica in southwestern Poland. Following his apprenticeship as a joiner, he joined the police school in Frankenstein in Schlesien, present-day Ząbkowice Śląskie, as a police candidate on 4 April 1929.

After the Landespolizei (state police) was transferred into the Wehrmacht, Riedel, holding the rank of Polizei-Oberwachtmeister, joined the Army and was posted to the 1st company of Infantry-Regiment 84 of the 8th Infantry Division. On 26 August 1939, Riedel was transferred to the 12 company of Infantry-Regiment 372 (12./Inf.Rgt. 372) of the 239th Infantry Division. The division had been raised from troops of the Landwehr (national militia) in Oppeln, present-day Opole in Poland, and was under the command of Generalmajor (Major General) Ferdinand Neuling.

World War II in Europe began on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. Riedel participated in the invasion as a Zugführer (platoon leader) in 12./Inf.Rgt. 372.

On 1 January 1943, Riedel was promoted to Major (major). One month later, on 28 January, Riedel, who had been injured by artillery shell splinter on his left side, was taken prisoner of war by Soviet forces at the field hospital of the 71st Infantry Division during the Battle of Stalingrad. In 1944, he joined the National Committee for a Free Germany (Nationalkomitee Freies Deutschland).

After World War II, in 1947, Riedel joined the Volkspolizei (People's Police) of German Democratic Republic (East Germany), initially serving as head of the division of the police in Saxony-Anhalt (Referatsleiter in der Abteilung Schutzpolizei der Landespolizeibehörde Sachsen-Anhalt). In 1949, he became head of the Volkspolizei-Bereitschaft (Police Company). He then served in the Kasernierte Volkspolizei (KVP—Barracked People's Police), the military units of the Volkspolizei (police). On 1 June 1952, he commanded the KVP-Bereitschaft in Prenzlau. Riedel then commanded the 6. motorisierte Schützendivision (6th Motorized Rifle Division) of the Nationale Volksarmee (NVA—National People's Army) from 30 October 1956 to 31 December 1957.

End-December 1954, Riedel was recruited by Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) Rudolf Israel, a representative of the Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (MfS—Stasi), with the intention to have a secret informant among the divisional commanders of the NVA. Subsequently, Riedel's cover name in the MfS was "Siegfried". However, Riedel showed little interest in this type work and undermined communication. In July 1957, Riedel's work for the MfS ended for the first time and Riedel was relieved of his command. Riedel was then transferred to the Institut für Deutsche Militärgeschichte (IDMG—Institute for German Military History) based in Potsdam, taking the position of deputy leader. However, the MfS interest in Riedel did not end while Riedel was working for the IDMG. In October 1961, the MfS finally dropped Riedel as his MfS officer criticized Riedel for his unwillingness to report on other people or to engage in conspiracy. Riedel's approved promotion to Generalmajor (major general) was subsequently revoked.

Riedel died on 10 February 1982 in Potsdam. He was buried at the Neuer Friedhof, the new cemetery in Potsdam.

Source :
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Willy_Riedel
https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Riedel,_Willi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willy_Riedel
http://www.ritterkreuztraeger.info/rk/r.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/16649/Riedel-Willi.htm