Otto Edler von Ballasko

Otto Edler von Ballasko
Otto Edler von Ballasko
Born	29 April 1919 Reichenberg
Died	5 February 2005 (aged 85) Vienna
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1938–45
Rank	Hauptmann
Unit	Kampfgeschwader 1
Commands held	9./Kampfgeschwader 1
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of Britain The Blitz Operation Barbarossa Siege of Leningrad Demyansk Pocket Battle of the Caucasus Battle of Stalingrad Battle of Kursk Allied invasion of Sicily
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Other work	Export Merchant

Otto Edler von Ballasko (29 April 1919 – 5 February 2005) was a Bohemian German Luftwaffe bomber pilot and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Otto Edler von Ballasko was captured by American troops in May 1945 and was released later that year.

Awards

• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
• Flugzeugführerabzeichen
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Eastern Front Medal
• Demyansk Shield
• German Cross in Gold on 19 January 1942 as Leutnant in the 9.(Eis)/Kampfgeschwader 1^[1]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 13 August 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 9./Kampfgeschwader 1 "Hindenburg"^[2]

References

Citations

1. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 22.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 104.

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

• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939–1945