Heinrich Paepcke

Updated on Oct 30, 2023

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Allegiance Nazi Germany Rank Major (Posthumously) Died October 17, 1942, Malta		Years of service 1935–42 Name Heinrich Paepcke Service/branch Luftwaffe
Battles/wars World War II Invasion of Norway Battle of Britain Operation Barbarossa Siege of Leningrad Siege of Malta † Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Battles and wars World War II, Operation Weserubung, Battle of Britain, Operation Barbarossa, Siege of Leningrad, Siege of Malta Unit Kampfgeschwader 30, Kampfgeschwader 77 Commands held Kampfgeschwader 30, Kampfgeschwader 77

Heinrich Paepcke (11 December 1910 – 17 October 1942) 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. Heinrich Paepcke was killed on 17 October 1942 over the island of Malta, he was posthumously awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 19 December 1942 and was promoted to Major.

Awards and decorations

Flugzeugfuhrerabzeichen

Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe

Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (21 September 1942)

Iron Cross (1939)

2nd Class

1st Class

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Knight's Cross on 5 September 1940 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitan of the 7./Kampfgeschwader 30

154th Oak Leaves on 19 December 1942 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Kampfgeschwader 30

References

Heinrich Paepcke Wikipedia

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