serviceyears branch commands death_place death_date birth_place allegiance awards battles birth_date rank article_title name
1935 -- 45 1957 -- 72 heer fahnenjunkerschule 2 der panzertruppe hamburg 10 january 2004 coburg nazi germany -lrb- to 1945 -rrb- west germany knight 's cross of the iron cross world war ii 24 july 1912 hauptmann -lrb- wehrmacht -rrb- oberstleutnant -lrb- bundeswehr -rrb- thilo freiherr von werthern
 thilo freiherr von werthern
thilo freiherr von werthern

thilo freiherr von werthern -lrb- 24 july 1912 -- 10 january 2004 -rrb- was a highly decorated hauptmann in the wehrmacht during world war ii and a recipient of the knight 's cross of the iron cross .
the knight 's cross of the iron cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership .
thilo freiherr von werthern was captured by british troops in may 1945 and was released in june 1945 .
he later joined the bundeswehr in 1957 and retired in 1972 as an oberstleutnant .
