Helmut Pleß

Helmut Pleß
Born	2 November 1918 Hamburg, Germany
Died	25 December 1999 (aged 81) Lüneburg, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany (to 1945)  West Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	?–1945 ?–1973
Rank	Leutnant (Wehrmacht) Oberst der Reserve (Bundeswehr)
Unit	Aufklärungs-Gruppe 31
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of France Battle of Britain Eastern Front
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Helmut Pleß (2 November 1918 – 25 December 1999) was a highly decorated Leutnant in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and 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.

Awards and decorations

• Flugzeugführerabzeichen (14 December 1939)
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
  • in Bronze (17 March 1942)
  • in Silver (24 May 1942)
  • in Gold (12 September 1942)
  • in Gold with Pennant (9 March 1943)
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (5 June 1943)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (11 June 1940)
  • 1st Class (18 June 1940)
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black (1 August 1940)
• Crimea Shield (20 March 1943)
• German Cross in Gold (3 December 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 June 1944 as Leutnant and pilot in the 4.(H)/Aufklärungs-Gruppe 31^[1]

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 278.

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.
• 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