Nickname: No information
Date of birth: 03.05.1914 - Mannebach near Adenau, Vulkaneifel (German Empire)
Date of death: 21.10.1998 - Monreal, Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany)
Battles and operations: Polish Campaign, Battle of Belgium, Battle of France, Operation Barbarossa and defensive battles on the Eastern Front (especially around Lake Ilmen), Normandy, Battle of the Bulge, final defensive actions in Germany including Battle of Kassel.
NSDAP-number: Joined 1 November 1938 (no specific membership number widely recorded)
Religion: No specific information available (likely Catholic given regional background)
Parents: Adolf Bremm (Volksschule teacher) and Maria Bremm, née Müller
Siblings: No detailed information available
Spouse: Agnes Steffens (1925–2011)
Children: None (childless marriage)
Promotions:
01.10.1936 Gefreiter
01.06.1937 Unteroffizier
01.10.1937 Feldwebel der Reserve
29.01.1938 Leutnant der Reserve (effective 1 January 1938, seniority 1 October 1938)
15.12.1941 Oberleutnant der Reserve (effective 1 October 1941)
25.03.1942 Oberleutnant der Reserve (adjusted seniority)
04.08.1942 Transferred to active service with adjusted dates
03.01.1943 Hauptmann (effective 1 January 1943)
14.02.1943 Major (seniority 1 February 1943)
01.11.1944 Oberstleutnant (seniority 9 November 1944)
Career:
26.08.1939 Zugführer in 11.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 453
01.11.1939 Adjutant III.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 453
01.11.1940 Zugführer in Grenadier-Ersatz-Bataillon 5
02.03.1941 Adjutant II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 426
02.08.1941 Chef 5.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 426
02.12.1942 Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 426
16.03.1943 Waffenlehrer in Infanterieschule Döberitz
02.05.1943 ???
15.03.1944 Kommandeur Füsilier-Bataillon 712
01.08.1944 Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 990
Awards and Decorations:
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (27 June 1940)
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse (15 December 1940)
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen (13 November 1941)
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz (17 July 1941)
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber (1 June 1942)
Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42 (Ostmedaille) (25 July 1942)
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Gold (12 January 1943)
Nahkampfspange in Bronze (1 July 1943)
Panzerknackerabzeichen für Einzelkämpfer (Tank Destruction Badge for Individual Combatants)
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes #874 (18 February 1942) as Leutnant der Reserve and Chef 5.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 426 / 126.Infanterie-Division. The decisive action took place on the morning of 22 December 1941 at the Orelje barracks bridgehead. Amid the brutal winter defensive fighting near Lake Ilmen, Bremm's heavily depleted 5th Company faced a strong Soviet attack. After a tough, attritional battle in freezing conditions, his men repelled the assault and brought the enemy advance to a halt. Seizing the initiative on his own accord, Bremm personally led a vigorous counterthrust at the head of his troops. He stormed into the Soviet positions, using his machine pistol and hand grenades in close combat. In the heat of the fighting, he killed a desperately resisting Soviet commissar who had been the driving force behind the enemy resistance. This bold action by a weak company partially destroyed one enemy battalion, with the remnants shattered and routed. His leadership turned a defensive stand into a local victory, preventing a breakthrough and stabilizing the bridgehead under extreme winter hardship.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #165 (23 December 1942) as Oberleutnant der Reserve and Chef 5.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 426 / 126.Infanterie-Division. This recognized his repeated outstanding bravery and energetic leadership in heavy combat southeast of Lake Ilmen during the grueling defensive battles of 1942. A key highlight occurred at the end of September 1942. Leading an assault troop from the front, Bremm penetrated an enemy blocking position with complete surprise. He then rolled up the position in a bold follow-up action. This decisive maneuver enabled his attacking regiment to reach its ordered daily objective, which otherwise would have been unattainable. A few days later, his subordinated battalion single-handedly shielded the division's flank against strong oncoming Soviet forces. Despite being wounded for the fourth time, Bremm refused to relinquish command. He continued directing the defense until all enemy attacks were broken, demonstrating extraordinary tenacity and personal courage amid intense fighting.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern #159 (9 May 1945) as Oberstleutnant and Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 990 / 277.Volksgrenadier-Division. In the final desperate phase near Kassel, Bremm commanded Kampfgruppe Bremm (also known as Grenadier-Battalion Bremm), a battle group of roughly 150 men formed from remnants of Grenadier-Regiment 990. Subordinated to the 326th Volksgrenadier Division within the 11th Army, this understrength force faced an armored spearhead of the U.S. Third Army. Supported by a few Tiger II heavy tanks, Bremm led multiple aggressive counterattacks in the vicinity of Kassel. In fluid, close-quarters engagements against superior American armored and infantry forces, his Kampfgruppe conducted bold thrusts that disrupted enemy advances, inflicted losses, and temporarily stabilized collapsing sectors. These actions exemplified late-war German tactical determination, with Bremm personally directing mixed infantry-tank assaults amid the chaos of the Reich's final defense.
Josef Bremm's nomination was forwarded by General der Infanterie Otto Hitzfeld (LXVII. Armeekorps) on 12 April 1945, approved by Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring (OB West) on 23 April, but was rejected by Major Joachim Domaschk of Heerespersonalamt on 30 April 1945 and instead recommended for the Deutsche Kreuz 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 (Allgemeines Heeresamt — General Army Office)". The entry date noted on the nomination list for the higher grades of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes is 28 April 1945. The list indicates a note "deferred". The Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (OdR) 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 OdR. The presentation date was assigned by Fellgiebel. Bremm was a member of the OdR.
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Josef Benedikt Bremm was an officer in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. Although Veit Scherzer challenged the presentation of the Swords in 2007, Bremm was the highest decorated soldier of the Eifel region. Born on 3 May 1914 in Mannebach near Adenau in the Vulkaneifel, he was the son of Adolf Bremm, a Volksschule teacher, and his wife Maria, née Müller. He attended the Kurfürst-Balduin-Schule in Münstermaifeld and earned his Abitur. After the National Socialist seizure of power, he entered military service on 1 November 1935 with Infanterie-Regiment 7 in Schweidnitz. He progressed through the ranks as a conscript, achieving promotions to Gefreiter, Unteroffizier, and Feldwebel der Reserve before receiving his Leutnant der Reserve commission in 1938. Discharged that year and listed with Infanterie-Regiment 425, he joined the Nazi Party the following day.
Bremm was reactivated on 30 August 1939 and initially served as Zugführer and later adjutant in Infanterie-Regiment 453 of the 253rd Infantry Division. He took part in the invasion of Poland, the Battle of Belgium, and the Battle of France. Transferred to Infanterie-Regiment 426 of the 126th Infantry Division, he became Chef of the 5th Company in August 1941 and saw intense action on the Eastern Front. In the harsh winter of 1941 near Lake Ilmen, his depleted company faced repeated Soviet assaults at the Orelje barracks bridgehead. On 22 December 1941, after repelling a strong attack in brutal freezing conditions, Bremm led a vigorous counterthrust on his own initiative. Storming ahead with machine pistol and hand grenades, he broke into enemy positions and personally killed a Soviet commissar who was rallying the resistance. His action partially destroyed an enemy battalion, routing the rest and stabilizing the sector. For this display of leadership and bravery in close combat, he received the Knight's Cross on 18 February 1942 as Leutnant der Reserve.
Throughout 1942, Bremm continued to distinguish himself in heavy defensive fighting southeast of Lake Ilmen. Promoted to Oberleutnant der Reserve, he led assault troops with bold initiative. At the end of September 1942, he penetrated an enemy blocking position with complete surprise and rolled it up, enabling his regiment to achieve its daily objective. Days later, his battalion shielded the division's flank against superior Soviet forces. Wounded for the fourth time, he refused to leave his post and directed the defense until all attacks were repelled. These repeated acts of energetic leadership and personal courage under fire earned him the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross as the 165th recipient on 23 December 1942. He was later transferred to active service, advanced to Hauptmann and Major, and commanded II./Grenadier-Regiment 426 and other units.
In 1944, Bremm served as commander of Füsilier-Bataillon 712 before taking charge of Grenadier-Regiment 990 in the 277th Volksgrenadier Division in August. He fought in Normandy after the Allied invasion and during the Battle of the Bulge, where he sustained another wound on 16 December 1944. By early 1945, as Oberstleutnant, he led Kampfgruppe Bremm, a battle group of about 150 men formed from regimental remnants. In April 1945 near Kassel, this understrength force, supported by Tiger II heavy tanks, conducted multiple aggressive counterattacks against an armored spearhead of the U.S. Third Army. In fluid, close-quarters engagements amid the collapsing German defenses, Bremm's leadership disrupted enemy advances, inflicted losses, and temporarily held critical sectors through determined infantry-tank assaults. His troops nominated him for the Swords, forwarded through the chain of command and approved at high levels, though the award remained unconfirmed due to the chaos of the final days.
Bremm was taken prisoner by American forces at the end of the war and released later. Postwar, he returned to civilian life in Rhineland-Palatinate. He married Agnes Steffens in 1925–2011, and the couple had no children. He worked as a salesperson for agricultural machines and lived quietly in Monreal until his death on 21 October 1998 at the age of 84. His wartime record, marked by consistent bravery from company level to regimental command across multiple fronts, left him as a notable figure among decorated veterans from his home region.
Throughout his service, Bremm accumulated numerous awards reflecting his frontline endurance, including both classes of the Iron Cross, the Infantry Assault Badge, the Wound Badge in Gold after multiple injuries, the Eastern Front Medal, the Close Combat Clasp in Bronze, and the Tank Destruction Badge for individual action. His career illustrated the progression of a reserve officer who rose through demonstrated initiative in some of the war's most grueling battles, from the winter struggles on the Eastern Front to the desperate final defenses in western Germany.
Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josef_Bremm
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28685/Bremm-Josef.htm
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/
https://grokipedia.com/
https://rk.balsi.de/index.php?action=list&cat=300
https://www.unithistories.com/
https://forum.axishistory.com/
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/
https://www.geni.com/
Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. *Elite of the Third Reich*. Helion & Company, 2003.
Thomas, Franz & Wegmann, Günter. *Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945*. Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück.
Kwasny, A. & Kwasny, G. *Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945* (CD). Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv.
Brand, Martin. References on Eifel Ritterkreuzträger.
Scherzer, Veit. *Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939-1945*. Jena 2007.
