Generalmajor Wolfgang von Gronau

[USAF1986]

Here’s a man with an interesting lineup of orders and decorations: Luftwaffe Generalmajor Wolfgang von Gronau (25 February 1893-18 March 1977).

At his neck, he displays the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd Class with the German Olympic Games Decoration, 1st Class suspended beneath it.

Medal bar:
• Prussian Iron Cross, 2nd Class (1914)
• Unknown
• Cross of Honor for Combatants 1914-1918
• Prussian Royal Hohenzollern House Order, Knight’s Cross (Note his order is without Swords and on the statute peacetime ribbon of white with three black stripes: narrow black center stripe and two slightly broader black stripes toward each outer edge. Very rare indeed!)
• Armed Forces Long Service Award – presumably the 3rd Class (12-year Service Medal)
• Appears to be the Japanese 2600th National Anniversary Commemorative Medal (celebrated in November 1940)

Left Breast:
• German Navy Pilot’s Badge [uncertain if seaplane or land-based pilot badge] – World War I award (von Gronau was in the Imperial Navy from 15 April 1912-24 November 1919)
• Prussian Iron Cross, 1st Class (1914)
• An unknown eight-pointed breast star

Generalmajor Wolfgang von Gronau served as the Luftwaffe Attaché at the German embassy in Tokyo from 15 April 1939-21 January 1945. Although he was replaced by General der Flieger Ulrich Kessler, von Gronau remained in Japan awaiting transportation home. However, Kessler never made it to Japan as his transport, the submarine U 234 commanded by Kapitänleutnant Johann-Heinrich Fehler, was en route when Germany surrendered. On 15 May 1945, the U 234 surrendered to the destroyer escort USS Sutton (DE-771) and a prize crew took her into Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In the meantime, the Japanese interned von Gronau until 16 August 1945 when he passed into American captivity. He was finally released on 30 November 1947.

Any assistance on the unidentified decorations and/or additional pictures of von Gronau would be greatly appreciated!

Regards,
Shawn

[Requin Marteau]

Left Breast:
• An unknown eight-pointed breast star

Bonjour,
The breast star is a Italian Crown Order.

Thierry

[USAF1986]

Of course, the Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy! Thanks so much for the help!

Regards,
Shawn

P.S. I just found this great link that shows photos of all the grades of the Order of the Crown of Italy. Enjoy!
http://www.anticheopinioni.it/Insegneordinecorona.htm

[askropp]

Does anybody know on which date Gronau was promoted to GM? Hildebrand says 01.07.1943, but this is only the date of his RDA. He was already GM ohne RDA before.

[graveland]

Does anybody know on which date Gronau was promoted to GM? Hildebrand says 01.07.1943, but this is only the date of his RDA. He was already GM ohne RDA before.

[graveland]

Left Breast:
• German Navy Pilot’s Badge [uncertain if seaplane or land-based pilot badge] – World War I award (von Gronau was in the Imperial Navy from 15

Any assistance on the unidentified decorations and/or additional pictures of von Gronau would be greatly appreciated!

Regards,
Shawn

Abzeichen für Marine-Flugzeugführer auf Landflugzeugen



By the way, how do you translate "Japanese 2600th National Anniversary Commemorative Medal" in German?

[Dieter Zinke]

By the way, how do you translate "Japanese 2600th National Anniversary Commemorative Medal" in German?

Medaille zum 2600. Jahrestag der Gründung des Japanischen Reiches

Dieter Z.

[Söderbaum]

Hi
Gronau was never an Marine Land Flieger during WW1. He received the Seeflieger Abzeichen on 15.05.1915.

Gunnar

[Requin Marteau]

Medal bar:
• Prussian Iron Cross, 2nd Class (1914)
• Unknown (maybe KVK-II mit Schwertern)
• Cross of Honor for Combatants 1914-1918
• Prussian Royal Hohenzollern House Order, Knight’s Cross (Note his order is without Swords and on the statute peacetime ribbon of white with three black stripes: narrow black center stripe and two slightly broader black stripes toward each outer edge. Very rare indeed!)
• Armed Forces Long Service Award – presumably the 3rd Class (12-year Service Medal)
• Appears to be the Japanese 2600th National Anniversary Commemorative Medal (celebrated in November 1940)

[graveland]

Medal bar:
• Prussian Iron Cross, 2nd Class (1914)
• Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern
• Cross of Honor for Combatants 1914-1918
• Prussian Royal Hohenzollern House Order, Knight’s Cross (Note his order is without Swords and on the statute peacetime ribbon of white with three black stripes: narrow black center stripe and two slightly broader black stripes toward each outer edge. Very rare indeed!)
• Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung 4. Klasse
• Medaille zum 2600. Jahrestag der Gründung des Japanischen Reiches

[askropp]

Does anybody know on which date Gronau was promoted to GM? Hildebrand says 01.07.1943, but this is only the date of his RDA. He was already GM ohne RDA before.

Gregg may already have posted this in 2017 (see the disappeared image in #5), but I came about the correct date in the PA of Harlinghausen.

18.07.1942 Generalmajor (ohne RDA)

[graveland]

Hi
Gronau was never an Marine Land Flieger during WW1. He received the Seeflieger Abzeichen on 15.05.1915.

Gunnar

Thank you, askropp.

Wolfgang von Gronau wearing the Abzeichen für Marine Flugzeugführer auf Landflugzeugen.

[Igor Karpov]

Wolfgang von Gronau as Oberstleutnant.

Regards,
Igor

[graveland]

Thank you, Igor.