Johannes-Matthias Hönscheid | |
---|---|
Johannes-Matthias Hönscheid | |
Born | 14 July 1922 |
Died | 2 March 2001 | (aged 78)
Place of birth | Eitorf, Germany |
Place of death | Munich, Germany |
Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
Service/branch |
Luftwaffe Heer |
Years of service | 1942 – 1945 |
Rank | Leutnant of the Reserves |
Unit |
Lehrgeschwader 1 Kampfgeschwader 54 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division |
Battles/wars | |
Awards |
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Other work | Publisher |
Johannes-Matthias Hönscheid (14 July 1922 – 2 March 2001) was a war correspondent and Leutnant of the Reserves with the Fallschirmjäger during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Johannes-Matthias Hönscheid was the only war correspondent (Kriegsberichter) in the Wehrmacht to receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Hönscheidt is credited with the destruction of seven enemy tanks with antitank mines during the fighting retreat to the area of Frosinone and Monte Cassino. He was also responsible for capturing a total of 827 prisoner of war as shock troops leader. Hönscheid transferred to the Heer on 14 September 1944. He was nominated and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his actions in Italy in final days of the war. His last assignment at the end of the war was with the Regierung Dönitz (Dönitz Government) as a correspondent and spokesman in Plön and Flensburg.
Awards and decorations[]
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
- Parachutist Badge
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- Wound Badge (1939)
- in Black
- in Silver
- Close Combat Clasp
- in Bronze
- in Silver
- War Merit Cross with Swords
- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- 7 Tank Destruction Badges for Individual Combatants
- 2 Silver
- 1 Gold
- Ground Assault Badge of the Luftwaffe
- German Cross in Gold (16 March 1945)[1]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 12 March 1945 as Oberfeldwebel and Kriegsberichterstatter der Fallschirmtruppe.[2][Note 1]
- Ärmelband Afrika
- Ärmelband Kriegsberichter der Luftwaffe
Notes[]
References[]
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) (in German). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtsteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches]. Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007) (in German). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives]. Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
Works[]
- Hönscheid, Johannes-Matthias (1992). Der Kriegsberichter (in German). Internationaler Kulturdienst. ASIN B0044235DE.
External links[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:Hanns Hönscheid. |
- Johannes-Matthias Hönscheid in the German National Library catalogue
- World War 2 Awards.com
- Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945
- Der Spiegel 13/1960
The original article can be found at Johannes-Matthias Hönscheid and the edit history here.