Herbert Wittmann

Herbert Wittmann
Born	3 January 1914 Döllnitz
Died	Pullach
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany
Service/branch	Heer (1933–35) Luftwaffe (1935–45) (1956–72)
Years of service	1933–45 1956–72
Rank	Major (Wehrmacht) Oberst (Bundeswehr)
Unit	Condor Legion Kampfgeschwader 53
Commands held	II./Kampfgeschwader 53
Battles/wars	Spanish Civil War World War II Battle of France Battle of Britain Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok-Minsk Battle of Brody (1941) Battle of Kiev (1941) Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Moscow Battle of Stalingrad Battle of Kursk
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Herbert Wittmann (3 January 1914, Döllnitz – 26 July 2007) was a highly decorated Oberst in the Luftwaffe 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. Herbert Wittmann joined the post-war Deutsche Luftwaffe in 1956, retiring in 1972.

Awards and decorations

• Spanish Cross in Bronze with Swords (6 June 1939)
• Flugzeugführerabzeichen
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (19 May 1940)
  • 1st Class (5 June 1940)
• German Cross in Gold on 15 November 1943 as Major in the II./Kampfgeschwader 53
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 23 November 1941 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of the Stabsstaffel/Kampfgeschwader 53 "Legion Condor"
  • 735th Oak Leaves on 11 February 1945 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Kampfgeschwader 53 "Legion Condor"
• Ärmelband Condor Legion

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• World War 2 Awards.com
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945