Werner Ziegler (soldier)

Werner Ziegler
250px Werner Ziegler
Born	(1916-04-30)30 April 1916 Hausach, Großherzogtum Baden
Died	Oftersheim, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1936–45 1956–67
Rank	Oberstleutnant Oberst
Commands held	2./Infanterie-Regiment 186 Grenadier-Regiment 186 Grenadier-Regiment 1112 Panzergrenadier-Brigade 19
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
Other work	Bundeswehr

Werner Ziegler (30 April 1916 – 15 April 2001) was a German Major, serving during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Werner Ziegler was released as a prisoner of war in 1946. He then worked for ten years in the private industry before joining the Bundeswehr. In 1956 he served at the Infantry School in Hammelburg under Brigadegeneral Hellmuth Mäder. In 1960 Ziegler served deputy commander of the Panzergrenadierbrigade 35. Seven years later he retired as Oberst and commander of the Panzergrenadierbrigade' 19 in Ahlen.

Awards

• Wound Badge in Black
• Close Combat Clasp in Bronze
• Tank Destruction Badge for Individual Combatants
• Crimea Shield
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (7 July 1940)
  • 1st Class (26 April 1941)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
  • Knight's Cross on 31 December 1941 as Leutnant and leader of the 2./Infanterie-Regiment 186
  • 121st Oak Leaves on 8 September 1942 as Oberleutnant and leader of the 2./Infanterie-Regiment 186
  • 102nd Swords on 23 October 1944 as Major and leader of Infanterie-Regiment 186