Hans-Joachim Kahler

Hans-Joachim Kahler
Born	21 March 1908 Morhange (Mörchingen)
Died	14 January 2000 (aged 98) Hamburg
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1927–45
Rank	Generalmajor
Commands held	Führer Grenadier Brigade
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Siege of Leningrad Battle of Kursk Battle of Smolensk (1943) Gumbinnen Operation Battle of the Bulge
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Hans-Joachim Kahler (21 March 1908 – 14 January 2000^[1]) was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Hans-Joachim Kahler was captured by British troops in May 1945 and was released in 1946.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (3 July 1940)^[2]
  • 1st Class (3 September 1941)^[2]
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black or in Silver
• Eastern Front Medal (4 September 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 14 April 1943 as Major and commander of Kradschützen-Bataillon 34^[3]
  • 355th Oak Leaves on 17 December 1943 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5^[4]

References

Citations

1. Biography
2. Thomas 1997, p. 341.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 204.
4. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 65.

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.
• Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht