Gerhard Franz

Gerhard Franz
Born	26 February 1902 Bobeck
Died	24 December 1975 (aged 73) Bad Wildungen
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1917–45
Rank	Generalmajor
Commands held	256. Volksgrenadier-Division
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Battle of Dunkirk Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Moscow Second Battle of Kharkov Battle of Kasserine Pass Battle of the Scheldt Operation Nordwind
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Gerhard Franz (26 February 1902 – 24 December 1975) was a highly decorated Generalmajor 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. Gerhard Franz was captured by American troops in April 1945 and was held until 1947.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Eastern Front Medal
• German Cross in Gold (14 February 1944)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 24 July 1941 as Oberstleutnant i.G. and Ia der 29. Infanterie-Division ^[1]
• Ärmelband Afrika

Notes

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 155.

References

• 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.
• 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.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Gerhard Franz @ Axis Biographical Research at the Wayback Machine (archived November 16, 2010)