Helmut Hudel

Helmut Hudel
Helmut Hudel
Born	(1915-07-04)4 July 1915 Raunheim
Died	Frankfurt am Main
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1934–45
Rank	Major
Commands held	508th Heavy Panzer Battalion Panzer-Lehr-Regiment 130
Battles/wars	World War II Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Moscow Battles of Rzhev Battle of the Kasserine Pass Battle of Medenine Italian Campaign Operation Shingle Battle of Remagen Ruhr Pocket
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Helmut Erich Hudel (4 July 1915 – 11 March 1985) was a highly decorated Major in the Wehrmacht during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients 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. Helmut Hudel was captured by American troops in April 1945 in the Ruhr Pocket.

Awards and decorations

• Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th Class (1 April 1938)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (2 July 1941)
  • 1st Class (21 July 1941)
• Panzer Badge in Silver (11 July 1941)
• Wound Badge (1939) in Black (1 January 1942)
• Eastern Front Medal (17 August 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 27 May 1942 as Hauptmann and chief of 1./Panzer-Regiment 7
  • 219th Oak Leaves on 2 April 1943 as Hauptmann and commander of I./Panzer-Regiment 7

External links

Military offices
Preceded by None	Commander of 508th Heavy Panzer Battalion January 1944 – May 1944	Succeeded by Hauptmann Stelter