August Krakau

August Krakau
Born	12 September 1894 Pirmasens
Died	7 January 1975 (aged 80) Amberg
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1914–45
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	7 Gebirgs Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Annexation of Austria Invasion of Poland Siege of Warsaw (1939) Battle of France Battle of Crete Operation Nordlicht Petsamo–Kirkenes Offensive Lapland War
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

August Krakau (12 September 1894 – 7 January 1975) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. August Krakau was captured by British troops in 1945 and was held until 1947.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (17 June 1917)
  • 1st Class (18 May 1918)
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black (10 June 1918)
• Military Merit Cross (Bavaria) 2nd Class with Swords (25 June 1917)
• Military Merit Cross (Austria-Hungary) (2 May 1918)
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Anschluss Medal
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (12 June 1940)
  • 1st Class (25 June 1940)
• Order of the Cross of Liberty 1st Class with Swords (15 May 1943)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 21 June 1941 as Oberst and commander of Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 85 ^[1]
• Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht (11 June 1941 and 24 August 1943)
• Ärmelband Kreta

Wehrmachtbericht references

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
Wednesday, 11 June 1941	An der Durchführung der Operationen auf Kreta hatten der Kommandeur einer Gebirgsdivision, Generalmajor Ringel, sowie als Kommandeure von Gebirgsregimentern die Obersten Utz, Jais und Krakau und der Kommandeur eines Gebirgsartillerieregiments, Oberstleutnant Wittmann, mit den ihnen unterstellten Truppen entscheidenden Anteil.[2]	In the execution of operations on Crete, the commander of a Mountain Division, General Major Ringel, and as commanders of mountain regiments, the Colonels Utz, Jais and Krakau and the commander of a mountain artillery regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Wittmann, along with their subordinate troops had a decisive share.
24 August 1943	An der Lapplandfront hat sich die 7. Gebirgsdivision unter Führung des Generalleutnants Krakau, von Verbänden der Luftwaffe des Generalobersten Stumpff wirksam unterstützt, bei der Erstürmung eines Höhenrückens und bei der Abwehr der daraufhin einsetzenden wochenlang anhaltenden Gegenangriffe überlegender feindlicher Kräfte besonders ausgezeichnet. Die Sowjets verloren allein an dieser Stelle über 1000 Tote. 50 stark ausgebaute feindliche Bunker wurden genommen.[3]	The 7th Mountain Division under the command of Lieutenant-General Krakau, effectively supported by units of the Air Force of Colonel-General Stumpff, has particularly excelled during the storming of a ridge and in the defense of the then incipient counter-attacks of superior enemy forces over weeks. The Soviets lost over 1,000 dead at this location alone. 50 heavily fortified enemy bunkers were taken.

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 223.
2. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, p. 556.
3. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, p. 547.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 2, 1 January 1942 to 31 December 1943] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 2, 1 January 1942 to 31 December 1943] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• specialcamp11
• August Krakau @ Axis Biographical Research at the Wayback Machine (archived October 28, 2009)