Bio of Oberstleutnant Wilhelm Drewes (1907-1982)

Wilhelm Heinrich Friedrich Drewes

Date of Birth: 26.05.1907 - Ilster, Hannover (German Empire)
Date of Death: 14.07.1982 - Bremen, Freie Hansestadt Bremen (West Germany)

Battles and Operations: Invasion of Poland (1939), Battle of France (1940), Invasion of Yugoslavia (1941), Battle of Greece (1941), Operation Barbarossa (1941), Battle of Białystok–Minsk (1941), Battle of Smolensk (1941), Battle of Moscow (1941-1942), Battle of Kursk (1943), Operation Bagration (1944), and Upper Silesian Offensive (1945)

Promotions:
00.00.1929 Polizei-Unterwachtmeister
00.00.1931 Polizei-Wachtmeister
00.00.1935 Oberwachtmeister der LP
00.00.1936 Feldwebel
00.00.1939 Oberfeldwebel
00.00.1939 ROA
15.05.1940 Leutnant. mit RDA vom 01.11.1934 (25)
12.11.1940 Oberleutnant. mit RDA vom 01.10.1937 (488)
01.08.1942 Hauptmann (413)
01.11.1943 Major. mit RDA vom 01.02.1944 (3g)
00.00.1945 Oberstleutnant

Career:
00.00.191_ Volksschule Munster
00.00.1921 - 00.00.1928 Carpenter
00.00.1928 - 00.00.1935 Polizei Bremen
00.00.1935 III.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 65
22.11.1938 Truppführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Schützen-Regiment 14 in Oppeln
00.00.1940 Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Schützen-Regiment 14
00.00.1941 Divisions-Nachschubführer 85
00.09.1942 Kommandeur Kradschützen-Bataillon 55
00.11.1942 Chef 4.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 13
00.01.1943 Führer Feld-Ersatz-Bataillon 85
12.03.1943 Führer I.Bataillon / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 13
00.07.1944 Kommandeur Feldersatz-Bataillon 85
06.02.1945 Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Regiment 73
18.03.1945 Seriously wounded in Silesia
00.00.1945 - 00.00.1946 US prisoner of war

Awards and Decorations:
00.00.193_ Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht IV.Klasse (4 jahre)
01.07.1939 Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938 (Sudetenland-Medaille)
05.10.1939 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
14.06.1940 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
24.11.1940 Panzerkampfabzeichen in Bronze
13.08.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
27.10.1943 Nahkampfspange in Bronze
27.10.1943 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Hauptmann and Führer I.Bataillon / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 13 / 5.Panzer-Division. During the heavy defensive battles along the Dnieper Drewes and his Bataillon held off a Soviet onslaught along a broad front. He and his Kampfgruppe defended the crossing point north of Joltscha on the 28.09.1943, and by attacking into the enemy’s left flank Drewes was able to prevent the Soviets from thrusting in a westerly direction.
05.12.1943 Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz
20.04.1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #458, as Major and Kommandeur I.Bataillon / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 13 / 5.Panzer-Division. During the relief of Kowel in early 1944 Drewes and his Bataillon attacked the chain of hills west of Smidyn on the 31.03.1944. He and his men then captured the western part of Smidyn in accordance with their orders. However when he saw that the bridges between the two parts of the village were undamaged, he continued attacking into the eastern part of Smidyn on his own initiative. He stormed this place with only 2 Kompanien and 2 Panzers, and in doing so created an important bridgehead. By this action the conditions were established for the 4. and 5. Panzer-Divisionen to continue their relief efforts on the other side of the large ring of swampy land around Kowel, which eventually led to the relief of the city itself.
28.04.1944 Mentioned in Wehrmachtbericht
03.05.1944 Nahkampfspange in Silber

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Wilhelm Drewes came from the police to III.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 65 in 1935 as a Unterfeldwebel. On November 22, 1938, he was transferred to the 6th Company of the Schützen-Regiment 14 as a Oberfeldwebel. As a company troop and platoon leader, he took part in the Polish and Western campaigns and was promoted to Leutnant on May 15, 1940. He was then transferred to Divisions-Nachschubführer 85 and took part in the Balkan campaign. From June 1941 he fought in Russia, where he was promoted to Hauptmann on August 1, 1942. From September 1942 he led the Kradschützen-Bataillon 55, and from November 1942 he was chief of the 4th company of the Panzergrenadier-Regiment 13. In January 1943 he became leader of the Feld-Ersatz-Bataillon 85 and on March 12, 1943 commander of the I. Battalion of the Panzergrenadier-Regiment 13. For his leadership achievements in the Chernigov area in September 1943, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz as a Hauptmann on October 27, 1943. On November 1, 1943 he was promoted to major. For his decisive contribution to the liberation of Kovel at the beginning of April 1944, he was awarded the Eichenlaub on April 20, 1944. From July 1944 he was commander of the Feldersatz-Bataillon 85, and from February 6, 1945, after a regimental commander's course, he led the Panzergrenadier-Regiment 73. On March 18, 1945, he was seriously wounded in Silesia. At the end of the war he was in the hospital in Prague.

After 1945, Wilhelm Drewes served as Polizeihauptkommissar in Bremen.

Wilhelm Drewes in winter camo.

Wilhelm Drewes in winter camo.

Wilhelm Drewes (left) and unknown Luftwaffe soldier.



Group photo of 5. Panzer-Division Officers and Ritterkreuzträger after the fightings at Kovel in April 1944, possibly in preparation for the Eichenlaub award ceremony for Bataillonskommandeur Wilhelm Drewes. From left to right: Major der Reserve Hans-Georg Herzog (Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 14. Ritterkreuz on 6 April 1944 and Eichenlaub on 23 March 1945), Generalmajor Karl Decker (Kommandeur 5. Panzer-Division. Ritterkreuz on 13 June 1941, Eichenlaub on 4 May 1944 and Schwerter on 26 April 1945), Major Wilhelm Drewes (Kommandeur I.Bataillon / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 13. Ritterkreuz on 27 October 1943 and Eichenlaub on 20 April 1944); and Major Gerhard Friedrich (Führer Panzergrenadier-Regiment 13. Ritterkreuz on 6 April 1943 and Eichenlaub on 3 November 1944).

Major Wilhelm Drewes (Kommandeur I.Bataillon / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 13 / 5.Panzer-Division) photographed by Walter Frentz after the Eichenlaub award ceremony with Hitler at Berghof, Obersalzberg, on 31 May 1944. Drewes formally received the Eichenlaub #458 for his Ritterkreuz on Hitler's birthday, 20 April 1944.

Major Wilhelm Drewes.

Major Wilhelm Drewes.

Source :
ECPAD archives (LWEK F7096 L02)
https://alchetron.com/Wilhelm-Drewes
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2016/08/foto-5-panzer-division.html
https://www.ca-collecting.com/shop/de/autographen-1933-1945-heer/drewes-44156.html
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=565650#p565650
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwinwqHFpsuCAxWPbGwGHQKFC4wQFnoECCMQAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ritterkreuztraeger.info%2Frkel%2Fd%2FEL458Drewes.pdf&usg=AOvVaw3kjwe70Lq_Kza9xfLYInqB&opi=89978449
https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/catalogsearch/result/?avec_visuel=1&q=lwek
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/D/DrewesW.htm
https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Wilhelm_Drewes
https://www.ratisbons.com/autographs-photos/drewes-wilhelm-2-photos-with-autographs.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/29125/Drewes-Wilhelm.htm