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Johannes-Matthias Hönscheid
Bundesarchiv Bild 146-2006-0091, Hanns Hönscheid
Johannes-Matthias Hönscheid
Born (1922-07-14)14 July 1922
Died 2 March 2001(2001-03-02) (aged 78)
Place of birth Eitorf, Germany
Place of death Munich, Germany
Allegiance Nazi Germany 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

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Ärmelstreifen Kriegsberichter der Luftwaffe
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[]

Notes[]

  1. According to Scherzer on 16 March 1945 as Kriegsberichter der Fallschirmtruppe.[1]

References[]

Citations
  1. 1.0 1.1 Scherzer 2007, p. 396.
  2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 230.
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[]


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