Earned the Knight’s Cross for:
Awarded for his contribution to the German conquest of Leros in November 1943. Landing on the island on the 16th of that month, Wandrey’s company commander was quickly wounded and Wandrey stepped in to fill this role. At around 1500 that day Wandrey stormed the dominant Hill 204 with about 50 men, and located the British HQ there. With 20 solders Wandrey stormed the command post and took the British General Tilney prisoner.
Oakleaves for:
Awarded for the major role he played in the breakout of Gruppe von Saucken in early 1945. Around mid-February, as commander of an inexperienced battalion of the Panzer-Grenadier-Division “Brandenburg”, Wandrey led a stubborn defense east of Sprottisch-Waldau. The leadership of Saucken’s moving pocket thus oriented their breakout efforts towards this point, pushing north from the Primkenauer forest and linking up with Wandrey’s forces on 11/12.02.1945.
