Michael Wieland

This memorial page is dedicated to Michael Wieland, one of more than 725 war victims connected to the municipality of Deurne documented by Stichting Oorlogsslachtoffers. The municipality of Deurne and the surrounding villages of Liessel, Vlierden, Helenaveen, Neerkant and Zeilberg were liberated in the autumn of 1944 during heavy fighting. Victims fell on all sides: Allied soldiers from countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and New Zealand, and German soldiers.

But the archive covers more than just the combat victims on Deurne soil. Residents of Deurne who lost their lives elsewhere are also commemorated: civilians who were murdered in concentration camps, forced labourers who died in Germany, people who were executed or succumbed to the effects of persecution and oppression. In addition, residents of Deurne who entered German military service and were killed elsewhere are also included.

Stichting Oorlogsslachtoffers has been documenting the story of all these people since 1995, without distinction of nationality, side or background. The goal is to give every person a name and a face, and to keep their memory alive.

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Additional information

Grave location: Grave No. 9

Son of Michael Wieland and Anna Schneider.

Use the following link for the background to this research: Search for…

Michael Wieland was due to report for military conscription on 12 December 1940 and, following basic training, was assigned on 23 October1941, he was assigned to Panzer-Ersatz-Abteilung 25 with the rank of Panzerschütze, where he undertook further military training on various weapons, equipment and vehicles. During this training, on 17 January1942, he obtained his driving licence for tracked vehicles weighing up to 10 tonnes, after which he was promoted to Oberschütze on 1 September 1942 and to the rank of Gefreiter on 1 December 1942.

On 16 January 1943, Michael Wieland was transferred to the newly formed Schwere-Panzer-Abteilung 504 in Fallingbostel, from where his unit departed some time later for the front in Sicily (Italy); he was eventually assigned to the Stabskompanie of Panzer-Abteilung 115. On 10 July 1943, Michael Wieland was promoted to Obergefreiter and, together with his Unit, took part in various battles in Sicily, for which he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 7 August 1943. Shortly after receiving this award, his unit moved northwards, along the western coastline of Italy, towards Rome. Amidst the heavy fighting, Michael Wieland was finally promoted to Unteroffizier on 1 May 1944, after which his unit was transported by train to the south-east of Paris (France) approximately three months later. During the various battles in France, Michael Wieland was awarded the Heeres Flakabzeichen on 10 August 1944 for his proven service; this combat decoration was awarded, amongst other things, to those who had fought in three engagements under extremely difficult conditions and, in doing so, had destroyed a military (motorised) armoured vehicle.

Eventually, Michael Wieland and his unit reached the Netherlands via Belgium, advancing towards Liessel, which had already been liberated on 23 September 1944. According to a note in an official document, made by the Kompanieführer of the Stabskompanie of Panzer-Abteilung 115, Michael Wieland was killed in action on 31 October 1944, 4 km south-east of Liessel, as a result of shrapnel striking his head. At the time, fierce fighting did indeed take place at the specified location near the Heitrak, Kanaalstraat and Hogebrug. From the following extract, taken from a letter sent by the Unit’s staff to his next of kin to convey the sad news, it can be inferred that Michael Wieland was killed in action during the fierce fighting around Liessel – according to some war correspondents, one of the fiercest battles since the Normandy landings.

“Deployed on the front line in his anti-aircraft tank, it suffered technical damage and was left immobilised. Our hero, Michael Wieland, then did everything in his power to recover the tank. He was constantly on foot, searching for any means of towing his tank away. It was whilst doing so that he was killed by enemy shrapnel. Engineers then brought the body to the command post, where the company commander ordered that the fallen comrade be transported to St. Hubert near Kempen. There, he was laid out in a coffin and, on 2 November, buried with military honours alongside another comrade in the Heroes’ Cemetery at St Hubert’s parish cemetery. Until the funeral, his comrades kept vigil by the coffin. Many civilians attended the funeral, and a divisional chaplain delivered the eulogy.” 

From the text above, one might almost conclude that Michael Wieland did not fall in action at St Hubert near Kempen because his armoured vehicle had come to a standstill in the front lines due to a technical fault and, shortly afterwards, whilst searching for a way to have his armoured vehicle towed away, was fatally struck by enemy shellfire. His remains were then taken to a so-called Gefechtsstand (command post), where his Kompanieführer gave the order to transport the remains to St. Hubert near Kempen. It is possible that this was the same company commander who, in another official document concerning Michael Wieland, noted that he had died on 31 October 1944 as a result of shrapnel wounds to the head. This was despite the fact that Liessel was liberated for the second time on 1 November 1944 and Michael Wieland was finally laid to rest on 2 November 1944 at the Ehrenfriedhof in St Hubert – Kempen.

Memorial card

Prayer card

Memorial booklet

Michael Wieland in his tropical uniform

Michael Wieland in his tank uniform

Grave index card

A comprehensive file concerning Michael Wieland may be available for inspection from the author.

View all persons in the category: German soldiers killed in action