Günther Straehler-Pohl

Günther Straehler-Pohl
Born	29 July 1917 Breslau
Died	31 July 1980 (aged 63) Wildeshausen
Allegiance	Nazi Germany (to 1945)  West Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1935–45 1956–75
Rank	Hauptmann (Wehrmacht) Oberst (Bundeswehr)
Unit	Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1
Commands held	II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of the Netherlands Battle of Crete Eastern Front North African Campaign Tunisia Campaign
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Günther Straehler-Pohl (29 July 1917 – 31 July 1980) was a highly decorated Hauptmann in the Fallschirmjäger during World War II and a Oberst in the Bundeswehr. 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. Günther Straehler-Pohl was captured by Allied forces with the surrender of German forces in Tunisia in 1943 and was in captivity until 1947.

Awards and Decorations

• Parachutist Badge (1 August 1938)^[1]
• Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th Class (1 April 1939)^[1]
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (23 May 1940)^[1]
  • 1st Class (23 May 1940)^[1]
• German Cross in Gold on 19 March 1942 as Oberleutnant in the I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3^{[2][Note 1]}
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 10 May 1943 as Hauptmann and commander of the II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3^[3]

Notes

1. According to Thomas & Wegmann on 1 March 1943.^[1]

References

Citations

1. Thomas & Wegmann 1986, p. 300.
2. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 463.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 335.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). 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.
• Kurowski, Franz (1995). Knights of the Wehrmacht Knight's Cross Holders of the Fallschirmjäger. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military. ISBN 978-0-88740-749-9.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• 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.
• Thomas, Franz; Wegmann, Günter (1986). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil II: Fallschirmjäger [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part II: Paratroopers] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-1461-8.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Das-Ritterkreuz.de