Joachim Pötter

Joachim Pötter
Born 1 January 1913
Metz, Alsace-Lorraine
Died 17 November 1992
Kronburg / Oberbayern, Germany
Allegiance  Nazi Germany (to 1945)
 West Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service 1940–45
1955–71
Rank Oberst
Unit Kampfgeshwader 77 (KG 77)
Commands held I. Gruppe (Gruppenkommandeure)
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Joachim Pötter (1 January 1913 – 17 November 19921992) was a German World War II bomber pilot. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 16 April 1942

Biography

Joachim Pötter was born in Metz, Alsace-Lorraine, on 1 January 1913. Pötter joined the German Army straight from school. Pötter began a brilliant career in the Luftwaffe. After various assignments in France and on the Eastern Front, Pötter became an ace. Joachim Pötter was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./KG 77 commanded the first Group of the Kampfgeschwader 77 on 25 October 1941. He was eventually awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 16 April 1942. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross principally was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II. Pötter participated on all of the major fronts in the European Theatre, until the dissolution of his unit in 1944.

When he returned to West Germany after war, Pötter enlisted again in the new German army, the Bundeswehr, in 1955. He became colonel (Oberst) in the West German Air Force (Bundesluftwaffe). After his military retirement, on marsch 1971, Joachim Pötter died on 17 November 1992

Awards

References

Citations
  1. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 342.
  2. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 600.
Bibliography
  • de Zeng, H.L; Stanket, D.G; Creek, E.J. Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-1945; A Reference Source, Volume 1. Ian Allan Publishing, 2007. ISBN 978-1-85780-279-5
  • de Zeng, H.L; Stanket, D.G; Creek, E.J. Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-1945; A Reference Source, Volume 2. Ian Allan Publishing, 2007. ISBN 978-1-903223-87-1
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). 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.

External links