Josef Rettemeier

Josef-Wilhelm Rettemeier (17 September 1914 – 19 December 1997) was a highly decorated Oberst in the Wehrmacht during World War II and an Oberst in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient 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.

Rettemeier was commissioned as a Leutnant in 1936, and was assigned to the Panzertruppe. After the outbreak of WWII, he saw combats in France, North Africa and the Eastern Front, assuming command of company and battalion-sized formations. He was also in charge of an training unit for Panther tank drivers and officer candidates in the fall of 1944.

Rettemeier once worked in the steel industry before joining the Bundeswehr in 1956, leading panzer regiments and brigades, then served as X.O. in panzer and jäger divisions. After his retirement in 1972, Rettemeier came to Taiwan as the member of "Ming-teh-Gruppe", a German military advisory group. During his assignment in Taiwan, Rettemeier aided the creation and training for armored troops of the Republic of China Army. He died at Bad Nauheim in 1997.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (1 June 1940)
  • 1st Class (7 June 1942)
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black
  • in Silver
  • in Gold
• Panzer Badge
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 5 December 1943 as Hauptmann and commander of Panzer-Abteilung 5
  • 425th Oak Leaves on 13 March 1944 as Hauptmann and commander of Panzer-Abteilung 5
• Armband Afrika
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 1 March 1944

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945
• Josef Rettemeier