Fallschirmjäger RKTs - pics and career data

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 17 Nov 2007 02:03

Rudolf Kratzert,Hauptmann Kdr III./Fsch.Jäg.Rgt 3
Saw service with Austrian Army WW1.Reactivated in Luftwaffe 1940.Attached to FJR3 1942.Commanded 11/FJR3 Russia 1942.Awarded DKiG 1943.Later fought in Sicily,southern Italy.At Cassino launched attack that took Calvary Mountain,February 1944.Awarded KC.Commanded FJ Replacement troops 1945.Taken prisoner by the soviets but escaped to Vienna.

From: http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de/

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 17 Nov 2007 02:31

Herbert Beyer,Hauptmann Kdr I./Fsch.Jäg.Rgt 4
Joined Reichsmarine 1933,seaman.Served on Battleship Hessen.Transferred to Luftwaffe 1939.Joined FJ 1941.Hauptmann in Russia.At Cassino fought at Hill 193 and Hangman's Hill.March 1944,stormed Hill 193 and shattered the Indian troops there,saving Cassino from capture.Awarded the KC.Major 1945,captured in May.

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 17 Nov 2007 02:38

Rudolf Böhlein,Oberleutnant Kompanieführer I./Fsch.Jäg.Rgt 4
Joined Gebirgsjagers 1936.Served in Poland,France with GebR140.Transfered to FJ 1941.Saw action in Russia,Sicily.Awarded DKiG Cassino.Awarded KC at Point193(Castle Hill) for his aggressive,offensive patrols.Promoted Hauptmann 1945.

From wehrmacht-awards.com

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 17 Nov 2007 07:41

Kurt Kunkel,Leutnant Chef 2./Fsch.Jäg.Rgt 4
Joined Luftwaffe 1940.Transferred to FJ.Served in Russia,Sicily,southern Italy.Wounded and in hospital until November 1943.Fought at Cassino.Awarded KC for his leadership as a company commander during the retreat of April 1945.

From: http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de/

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 17 Nov 2007 07:46

Gerhard Pade,Major Kdr I./Fsch.Jäg.Rgt 4
Entered Police service 1932.Joined FJ 1937.Served Holland,Crete,Russia with FJR1.Hauptmann 1943,in Italy.Awarded DKiG August 1944.Commanded I./Fsch.Jäg.Rgt 4 1945.Awarded KC for holding "the defensive positions and guarded the crossings of the Po and Schio Rivers".

From Kurowski

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 17 Nov 2007 07:53

Hans-Joachim Weck,Leutnant Führer 3./Fsch.Jäg.Rgt 4
Joined Luftwaffe 1940.Joined FJ late 1941.Served in Russia 1942-1943.Later in Sicily,Italy.Commanded 3./Fsch.Jäg.Rgt 4 October 1944.Wounded January 1945.Returned to service February.Awarded KC for "foiling several breakthrough attempts by enemy armor".

From Kurowski

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 17 Nov 2007 10:01

Heinz Meyer,Hauptmann Chef 8./Fsch.Jäg.Rgt 4

Knight's Cross-8th April 1944
Oak Leaves-18th November 1944

Joined General Göring Regt 1937.Officer training school 1940,assigned to FJR3 in August.Served in Holland,Norway,Crete,Russia.DKiG June 1943.Hauptmann 1943 commanding 11/FJR4.Jumped into Sicily.Involved in Calvary Mountain battle,Cassino.Commanded III/FJR4 1944.Awarded KC at Albaneta destroying six American tanks.Lead III/FJR15 in the West 1944.Awarded Oak Leaves for defence of Monte Castre,Normandy.Captured in Harz Mountains,May 1945.

From Kurowski

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 17 Nov 2007 10:08

Leonhard Schmidt, Hauptmann Führer II./Fsch.Jäg.Rgt 4
Joined General Göring Regt 1937.With FJR1 served in Poland,Holland.Wounded at Crete.Wounded again in Russia,November 1941.Did a second tour of Russia 1942-1943.Awarded DKiG April 1943.Fought at Ortona,Cassino.Hauptmann by 1945 commanding II/FJR4.Awarded KC for performance during fighting withdrawal,April 1945.

From: http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de/

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 17 Nov 2007 10:13

Viktor Vitali,Leutnant Zugführer 5./Fsch.Jäg.Rgt 4
Joined Flak 1940.Volunterred for FJ,April 1944.Fought north of Cassino with FJR4,July-September 1944.A first class leader at later fighting at Hill 131,Santerno,Quaderna 1944-1945.Awarded KC for his defensive skills.wounded in May 1945 and taken prisoner while in hospital.

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 17 Nov 2007 10:20

Franz Grassmel,Major Kdr III./Fsch.Jäg.Rgt 4

Knight's Cross-8th April 1944
Oak Leaves-8th May 1945

Joined Police 1928.Heer in 1935.Transferred to FJ 1940.Fought at Crete,Heraklion.Then served in Russia,awarded DKiG June 1943.Fought in Sicily,at Cassino.Awarded KC for holding Massa Albaneta and destroying 29 tanks in March 1944.As Oberst leutnant commanded FJR20 in the West 1944/1945.Fought in Reichswald.Surrended May 1945.

From: http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de/

Fallschirmjäger · Post by **Fallschirmjäger** » 17 Nov 2007 11:04

Peter i may have missed it,but did any pictures here have a FJ with say the narvik shield and crete and africa armbands and the usual FJ medals and badges?.If not do you know where some are at all?,thanks.

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 17 Nov 2007 11:46

No,but I find that combination near impossible to achieve.

At Narvik only served I/FJR1.

II/FJR2 did arrive in Norway later but did not see action as the Narvik battle was over.Hence no Narvik shield for this battalion.

Therefore you would need a member of I/FJR1 to serve at Narvik,Crete and Afrika.Narvik and Crete would have been achievable.However I/FJR1 never served in Afrika.

Now it is possible that a handful of officers and NCOs via transfers (formerly from I/FJR1) did serve in Afrika with other units but again there numbers would be few,say a dozen or so men.

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 18 Nov 2007 03:15

Johannes-Matthias Hönscheid

http://www.ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.d ... tthias.htm

As indicated he was" the only war correspondent with the Knight's Cross".It states his KC was for his prior act of bravery with FJR4 in Sicily in July 1943.Transferred to the Heer 1944 as a war correspondent.

Fallschirmjäger · Post by **Fallschirmjäger** » 20 Nov 2007 05:55

Thanks for that info Peter,i did not think of that or check that info out on asking that.

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 20 Nov 2007 06:12

I think everything now tires up with what is here,courtesy of Bernd:

http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=1703