Paul Claas

Paul Claas
Born	12 December 1908 Linden
Died	20 June 1943 (aged 34) In the Sea of Azov
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1936–43
Rank	Major
Unit	KG 28, KG 26, Kampfgeschwader 100
Commands held	I./Kampfgeschwader 100
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of Britain Eastern Front
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Other work	Police officer

Paul Claas (12 December 1908 – 20 June 1943) was a highly decorated Major 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. Claas was killed on 20 June 1943 after a water landing in the Sea of Azov.

Awards and decorations

• Flugzeugführerabzeichen
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
  • in Bronze
  • in Silver
  • in Gold
  • in Gold with Pennant
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (22 May 1941)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (9 September 1940)^[1]
  • 1st Class (28 September 1940)^[1]
• German Cross in Gold on 24 November 1941 as Hauptmann in the 2./Kampfgeschwader 28^[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 March 1943 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Kampfgeschwader 100^[3]

References

Citations

1. Kaiser 2010, p. 122.
2. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 73.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 130.

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.
• Kaiser, Jochen (2010). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kampfflieger—Band 1 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Bomber Flyer—Volume 1] (in German and English). Bad Zwischenahn, Germany: Luftfahrtverlag-Start. ISBN 978-3-941437-07-4.
• 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
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945