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Herbert Wittmann

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Years of service
  
1933–45 1956–72

Name
  
Herbert Wittmann

Died
  
26 July 2007(2007-07-26) (aged 93) Pullach

Allegiance
  
Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany (to 1945)  West Germany

Service/branch
  
Heer (1933–35) Luftwaffe (1935–45) (1956–72)

Rank
  
Major (Wehrmacht) Oberst (Bundeswehr)

Unit
  
Condor Legion Kampfgeschwader 53

Herbert Wittmann (3 January 1914, Dollnitz – 26 July 2007) was a highly decorated Oberst 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. Herbert Wittmann joined the post-war Deutsche Luftwaffe in 1956, retiring in 1972.

Awards and decorations

  • Spanish Cross in Bronze with Swords (6 June 1939)
  • Flugzeugfuhrerabzeichen
  • Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
  • Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (19 May 1940)
  • 1st Class (5 June 1940)
  • German Cross in Gold on 15 November 1943 as Major in the II./Kampfgeschwader 53
  • Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 23 November 1941 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitan of the Stabsstaffel/Kampfgeschwader 53 "Legion Condor"
  • 735th Oak Leaves on 11 February 1945 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Kampfgeschwader 53 "Legion Condor"
  • Armelband Condor Legion

    • References

    Herbert Wittmann Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA