Georg-Wolfgang Feller

Georg-Wolfgang Feller
Born	9 July 1915 Schöneberg, Germany
Died	23 March 1991 (aged 75) Köln, North Rhine-Westphalia
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Kriegsmarine
Years of service	1939–45
Rank	Oberleutnant zur See der Reserve
Unit	36. Minensuchflottille
Battles/wars	World War II

Wolfgang Feller (9 July 1915 – 23 March 1991) was an Oberleutnant zur See of the Reserves, in the German navy during World War II. He is noted for being the last soldier, sailor or serviceman to receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.^[1]

Großadmiral Karl Dönitz had ordered a cease of all promotions and awards as of 11 May 1945. Nevertheless, a number of Knight's Crosses were awarded after this date and must therefore be considered "illegal" hand-outs. The Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine General-Admiral Walter Warzecha, successor of General-Admiral Hans-Georg von Friedeburg, without authorization presented Georg-Wolfgang Feller the Knight's Cross on 17 June 1945.^[2]

Feller, group leader in the 36. Minensuchflottille, was awarded the Knight's Cross for clearing the eastern Baltic Sea from mines thus ensuring the safe passage of many returning German ships.^[3]

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (13 April 1941)^[4]
  • 1st Class (26 October 1942)^[4]
• Minesweeper War Badge on 13 April 1941^[4]
• German Cross in Gold (8 July 1944)^[4]
• Wound Badge in Black on 11 October 1944^[4]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 17 June 1945 as Oberleutnant zur See and Gruppenführer in the 36. Minensuchflottille^[5]

References

Citations

1. Dörr 1995, p. 161.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 4.
3. Range 1974, p. 72.
4. Dörr 1995, p. 162.
5. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 178.

Bibliography

• Dörr, Manfred (1995). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Überwasserstreitkräfte der Kriegsmarine—Band 1: A–K [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Surface Forces of the Navy—Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2453-2.
• 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.
• Range, Clemens (1974). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kriegsmarine [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Navy]. Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-87943-355-1.