Career
The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He was severely wounded in early 1943 by a grenade splinter and taken prisoner of war by the Soviet Army. After World World War II he joined the military service of east Germany in the Kasernierte Volkspolizei (Barracked People"s Police), the military units of the Volkspolizei (police) in the German Democratic Republic (East Germany).
Riedel commanded the 6. motorisierte Schützendivision of the Nationale Volksarmee (National People"s Army) from 30 October 1956 to 31 December 1957.
Iron Cross (1939) Bibliography.