Who was the most decorated German soldier?

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KG Odessa
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Who was the most decorated German soldier?

#1

Post by KG Odessa » 07 Jan 2003, 07:41

who was the most decorated German soldier and what was his feats, medals, etc. All replies greatly appreciated, Adam

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Bryan Poon
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#2

Post by Bryan Poon » 07 Jan 2003, 10:53

:P Herman Goring :P

BP


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Macmedal
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#3

Post by Macmedal » 07 Jan 2003, 15:40

The Luftwaffe Ace Hans Ulric Rudel was the highest decorated combative of the Third Reich.

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sylvieK4
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#4

Post by sylvieK4 » 07 Jan 2003, 16:10

Who was the most decorated soldier who fought on the ground? Heer, Waffen SS or others who saw hand-to-hand combat ?

For the American military during the Second World War, Audie Murphy was the most decorated soldier. He entered the service as an enlisted infantryman and earned officer rank in the field. He was awarded about every medal the U.S had at the time.

Who was Murphy's German counterpart as highest decorated ground fighter of World War Two?

Peter
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#5

Post by Peter » 07 Jan 2003, 18:06

Probably the brilliant Theodor Tolsdorff, who rose from Leutnant to Generalleutnant in WW2.

Knights Cross 4 Dec 41 as Oblt comanding 14 Company, 22nd Inf Regt.
Oakleaves 25 Sep 43 as Major commanding 1st Bn, 22nd Fusilier Rgt.
Swords 18 Jul 44 as Obstlt commanding Gren Regt 1067
Diamonds 18 March 45 as Gen-Major commanding 340 Volks Gren Div.

Born 1909, father KIA in WW1, he was wounded 14 times 1939-45 and died 1979 in Wuppertal I believe.

Pete

Peter
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#6

Post by Peter » 07 Jan 2003, 18:14

Obviously its largely a matter of opinion and I'd rate at the VERY TOP men like

Michael Wittmann,
Hans Dorr
and Guenther-Eberhard Wisliceny

they fought from the start of the war, continuously at the front unless recovering from wounds won the Knights Cross with Oakleaves and Swords and all were KIA.

Pete

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Csaba Becze
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#7

Post by Csaba Becze » 07 Jan 2003, 19:08

Rudel. He got the Golden Oak Leaves, and the Hungarian Officer's Gold Medal for Bravery also. He got Germany's highest medal (it was made for him:), and the highest Hungarian award also.

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contestacion

#8

Post by Hernan Schneider » 07 Jan 2003, 19:14

the most condecorated were Josef Sepp Dietrich obergrüppenführer der waffen ss
Hermann Göring grossReichmarshall
Hans Ulrich Rudel Pilot of the luftwaffe

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JAS Gripen
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#9

Post by JAS Gripen » 07 Jan 2003, 20:47

H.Göring collected (surprise) medals and got many because his envoys "hinted" that Göring would appreciate certain award. He had an exquisite wooden display cabinet made with hand painted enamel plates occupying the vacant places of those awards he had not yet managed to get.

Going a bit off-tangent here, but for example only one Golden Finnish Pilot Badge with Diamonds was ever made and it was a present to Hermann.

Here's the regular version.

Image

Unfortunately the unique piece was likely 'liberated' along with other medals at the end of WWII and its whereabouts are unknown. I dearly hope it was not broken up for the diamonds !!! :cry:

If you in your travels happen to learn anything of the badge, let us hear !!!

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sylvieK4
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#10

Post by sylvieK4 » 08 Jan 2003, 00:06

Quote of Csaba:
Rudel. He got the Golden Oak Leaves, and the Hungarian Officer's Gold Medal for Bravery also. He got Germany's highest medal (it was made for him:), and the highest Hungarian award also.
What engagements did Rudel participate in that made him eligible for the Hungarian awards, and when did he receive them?

Thanks.

Mark Costa
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#11

Post by Mark Costa » 08 Jan 2003, 03:01

I have to agree that it would be Theodor Tolsdorff. He won a lot more decorations than did Rudel and everyone else mentioned above with the exceeption of Goering who really doesn't count. Rudel was the highest but not the most decorated and Wittman and Dorr aren't even close to having the most decorations. Galland and Moelders would also rank very high in MOST decorations.

Note: Audie Murphy was NOT the most decorated soldier of WWII. That is a myth that was started by Life Magazine. He happened to be the only soldier awarded at least one medal of all five combat decorations:
Medal of Honor, DSC, Silver Star, Legion of Merit and Bronze Star. There were several men awarded more decorations for Bravery in combat than Murphy but he was the only one to get at least one of each.

Mark

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#12

Post by M. Schroeder » 08 Jan 2003, 08:03

Murphy had an impressive arrray of foreign awards as well. Are those being taken into account?

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Rudel

#13

Post by Phil Nix » 08 Jan 2003, 11:46

sylvieK4 wrote:Quote of Csaba:
Rudel. He got the Golden Oak Leaves, and the Hungarian Officer's Gold Medal for Bravery also. He got Germany's highest medal (it was made for him:), and the highest Hungarian award also.
What engagements did Rudel participate in that made him eligible for the Hungarian awards, and when did he receive them?

Thanks.
Hi
Hans-Ulrich Rudel served as a ground support pilot flying Stukas throughout the campaigns on the Eastern front. Hungarian armies also served here and that would account for Hungarian Awards although I do not know the dates they were awarded. Awards were made probably for general service rather than a specific event
Philmil

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Csaba Becze
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#14

Post by Csaba Becze » 08 Jan 2003, 13:12

Rudel got the Hungarian award for his general service over Hungary, not for a special event. He was awarded on 16 January, 1945, but I have never seen the Hungarian Officer's Gold Medal for Bravery on the three German recipients - perhaps they didn't get the medals. Lipfert had "just" the Tisztikereszt, and Rudel, who safed their medals had not a Hungarian Gold Medal also...

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#15

Post by Peter » 08 Jan 2003, 19:25

I listed Wittmann, Dorr and Wisliceny in answer to the question about front line soldiers who were involved in hand to hand type combat. Proper fighting soldiers on the ground as a German alternative to Murphy.
cheers
Pete

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