| Walter Krauß | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 11, 1917 |
| Died | 17 July 1943 (aged 26) |
| Place of birth | Erlangen |
| Place of death | Orel |
| Allegiance |
 Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
Heer (1934 - 1937) Luftwaffe (1937 - 1943) |
| Years of service | 1934–1943 |
| Rank | Major (Posthumously) |
| Unit |
Aufklärungsgruppe (Heer) 21 Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 |
| Commands held | III./StG 2 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Walter Krauß[Note 1] (11 March 1917 – 17 July 1943) was a highly decorated Major in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. 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. Walter Krauß was killed on 17 July 1943, after Soviet bombers attacked the German airfield at Orel. He was posthumously promoted Major and on 3 January 1944 was awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross.
Awards and decorations[]
- Aviator badge
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- Eastern Front Medal (22 August 1942)
- German Cross in Gold on 24 April 1942 as Oberleutnant in the Stabs-Staffe/Sturzkampfgeschwader 2[1]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Notes[]
- ↑ His name, in German, is spelled with a "sharp S"; see ß.
References[]
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
- Obermaier, Ernst (1976). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe 1939-1945 Band II Stuka- und Schlachtflieger (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 3-87341-021-4.
- Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941–1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall (in German). ISBN 3-931533-45-X.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
External links[]
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