Helmut Bechler

Helmut Bechler
Helmut Bechler
Born	2 June 1898; Grün, Amtshauptmannschaft Auerbach, Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire
Died	9 January 1971 (aged 72); Kassel, Hesse, West Germany
Allegiance	German Empire; Weimar Republic ; Nazi Germany
Branch	Imperial German Army; Freikorps ; Reichsheer; German Army
Service years	1915–1920; 1934–1945
Rank	Generalmajor
Unit	16. Königlich Sächsisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 182 (1915–1918)
Commands	173rd Infantry Regiment; 504th Grenadier Regiment ; 85th Infantry Division
Conflicts	World War I; World War II Invasion of Poland; Battle of France; Operation Barbarossa; Battle of Białystok–Minsk; Battle of Smolensk (1941); Battle of Moscow; Battles of Rzhev; Battle of Kiev (1943); Kamenets-Podolsky pocket; Lvov–Sandomierz Offensive; Battle of Hürtgen Forest;
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Relations	∞ 1925 Ilse Herrmann (1901–1984); 5 children
Other work	Merchant (1921–1934)

Helmut Bernhard Franz Bechler (2 June 1898 – 9 January 1971) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 85. Infanterie-Division. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.

Promotions

10 June 1915: Fahnenjunker (Officer Candidate)
30 September 1915: Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier (Officer Candidate with Corporal/NCO/Junior Sergeant rank)
3 December 1915: Fähnrich (Officer Cadet)
21 October 1916: Leutnant (2nd Liutenant)
31.12.1920: Charakter als Oberleutnant (Honorary 1st Lieutenant)
15 July 1934: Hauptmann with Rank Seniority (RDA) from 1 February 1934 (63)
31 March 1939: Major with RDA from 1 April 1939 (38)
18 January 1942: Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) with RDA from 1 February 1942 (183)
15 February 1943: Oberst (Colonel) with RDA from 1 December 1942 (60
16 February 1945 (telex date): Generalmajor (Major General) with effect and RDA from 30 January 1945

Iron Cross (1914), 2nd and 1st Class
- 2nd Class on 20 July 1916
- 1st Class on 21 August 1918
Saxon Albert Order, Knight 2nd Class with Swords (SA3bX/AR2X) on 23 May 1917
Wound Badge (1918) in Black on 30 September 1918
Baltic Cross
Silesian Eagle Order, II. and I. Grade
- II. Grade on 29 November 1919
- I. Grade on 30 January 1920
Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 on 5 March 1935
Wehrmacht Long Service Award, 4th Class on 2 October 1936
West Wall Medal
Repetition Clasp 1939 to the Iron Cross 1914, 2nd and 1st Class
- 2nd Class on 8 June 1940
- 1st Class on 16 June 1940
Winter Battle in the East 1941–42 Medal on 9 August 1942
Referenced by name in the Wehrmachtbericht on 2 April 1944
Wound Badge (1939) in Silver and Gold
- Silver on 18 April 1944
- Gold in February 1945
Infantry Assault Badge in Silver on 3 July 1944
German Cross in Gold on 20 December 1941 as Major and Commander of the I. Battalion/Infanterie-Regiment 173/87. Infanterie-Division^[1]
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 March 1944 as Oberst and Commander of the Grenadier-Regiment 504/291. Infanterie-Division^[2]

Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.