Paul-Georg Kleffel

Paul-Georg Kleffel (7 September 1920 – 19 February 2020 in Bonn) was a German mechanized infantry commander and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. After the war he joined the Bundeswehr of West Germany and achieved a general's rank.

Paul-Georg Kleffel
Born(1920-09-07)7 September 1920
Billerbeck
Died19 February 2020(2020-02-19) (aged 99)
Bonn
Allegiance Nazi Germany
 West Germany
Service/branchArmy
Years of service1939–45
RankOberleutnant (Wehrmacht)
Generalleutnant (Bundeswehr)
Unit3rd Panzer Division
12th Panzer Division
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

Career

Oberleutnant Kleffel was a company commander in the reconnaissance battalion of the 3rd Panzer Division during early 1944. During the division’s defense of Orhei, on 13 April, the Soviets succeeded in reaching a defile in regimental strength just short of a patch of woods to the east of Orhei. From where his company was positioned Kleffel determined if the Russians made it to the woods they would be in a position to compromise the division’s entire defensive position. He launched a counterattack with his eight APCs, and despite fire from Russian AT guns he was able to reach the defile and opened fire, scattering the Russian infantry that were gathered there. He continued to pursue the Russian regiment across the bridge where it had come from, inflicting heavy losses, and pulled back across before the Russians were able to take countermeasures. For his successful spoiling attack Kleffel was awarded the Knight’s Cross.[1]

Awards & decorations

References

Citations
  1. Veterans of the 3rd Panzer Division (2012). Armoured Bears: Volume Two. Stackpole Books. p. 230.

Bibliography
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
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