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Willibald Utz

{{flag|German Empire}} {{flag|Weimar Republic}} {{flag|Nazi Germany}}"},"branch":{"wt":"{{army|Kingdom of Bavaria}} {{army|German Empire}} {{army|Weimar Republic}} {{army|Nazi G...

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Willibald "Willy" Johann Sebastian Utz[1] (20 January 1893 – 20 April 1954) was a German general during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Life and career

Willibald Utz was born in Furth im Wald in Bavaria on 20 January 1893. On 1 October 1913, at the age of 20, he entered the Bavarian Army as an officer candidate (Fahnenjunker), and by September 1914 he had been commissioned lieutenant.

After serving in World War I he joined the preliminary Reichswehr. From 1 September to 31 December 1920, he served with the Munich State Police (Landespolizei München) but soon realized that this profession did not suit him and returned to the Reichswehr on 1 January 1921.

By the outbreak of World War II in 1939 he was commander of the 100th (mountain) (Gebirgsjäger) Regiment,[2] and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his leadership of this regiment during the invasion of Crete during May and June 1941.[3]

In April 1943, Utz was appointed commander of the newly reconstituted 100th Jäger Division, which had been destroyed at the end of the Battle of Stalingrad. Promoted to major general (Generalmajor) on 1 July 1943, he held his command on the Eastern Front from March to December 1944.[4]

Now a lieutenant general (Generalleutnant),[4] he took over command of the 2nd Mountain Division on 9 February 1945 when its previous commander was wounded. After fighting on the Western Front in the Saar-Moselle Triangle, his new command, earlier in the war considered an elite unit, was well below strength and combat effectiveness. The division finished the war in Württemberg where Utz surrendered it to the Western Allies.[5]

Promotions

  • 1 October 1913 Fahnenjunker (Officer Candidate)
  • 7 January 1914 Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier (Officer Candidate with Corporal/NCO/Junior Sergeant rank)
  • 1 July 1914 Fähnrich (Officer Cadet)
  • 19 September 1914 Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant) without Patent (ernannt)
    • 9 October 1917 received Patent from 7 January 1913
  • 6 April 1918 Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
    • 1 July 1922 received Reichswehr Rank Seniority (RDA) from 18 April 1918 (21)
  • 1 de septiembre de 1920 Oberleutnant der Landespolizei (primer teniente de la policía estatal)
  • 1 de noviembre de 1926 (2) Hauptmann (Capitán)
  • 1 de septiembre de 1934 Mayor (6)
  • 16 de marzo de 1937 Oberstleutnant (Teniente Coronel) con efecto y RDA desde el 1 de marzo de 1937 (30)
  • 30 de enero de 1940 Oberst (Coronel) con efecto y RDA desde el 1 de febrero de 1940 (28)
  • 10 de julio de 1943 Generalmajor (Mayor General) con efecto y RDA a partir del 1 de julio de 1943 (6a)
  • 24 de enero de 1944 (fecha del télex) Generalleutnant (Teniente General) con efecto y RDA desde el 1 de febrero de 1944 (8)

Premios y condecoraciones

Tumba en Bad Reichenhall

Fuentes

  • Archivos Federales Alemanes: BArch PERS 6/972 y PERS 6/301169

Notas

  1. ↑ Nacimiento/Bautismo, Furth im Wald (Baviera), Libro parroquial de Mariä Himmelfahrt n.º 20, imagen 208 (págs. 407-408), consultado el 28 de marzo de 2025 en Matricula Online: https://data.matricula-online.eu/en/deutschland/regensburg/furth-i-wald/Furth_i_Wald020/?pg=208
  2. ↑ Lucas 1980 , pág. 219.
  3. 1 2 Fellgiebel 2000 , pág. 348.
  4. 1 2 Mitcham 2007 , págs. 247–248.
  5. ↑ Mitcham 2007 , págs. 263–264.

Referencias

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [ Los portadores de la Cruz de Caballero de la Cruz de Hierro 1939–1945 — Los propietarios del premio más alto de la Segunda Guerra Mundial de todas las ramas de la Wehrmacht ] (en Alemán). Friedberg, Alemania: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Lucas, James (1980). Élite alpina: Tropas de montaña alemanas de la Segunda Guerra Mundial . Jane's Publishing. ISBN 0531037134.
  • Mitcham, Samuel W. Jr. (2007). Orden de batalla alemán, volumen dos: Divisiones de infantería 291.ª a 999.ª, divisiones de infantería con nombre y divisiones especiales en la Segunda Guerra Mundial . Mechanicsburg, PA, Estados Unidos: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3437-0.
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