Walther von Axthelm
| Walther Moritz Heinrich Wolfgang von Axthelm | |
|---|---|
| Born |
23 December 1893 Hersbruck |
| Died |
6 January 1972 (aged 78) Traunstein |
| Allegiance |
 German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933).svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
Deutsches Heer (1913–18) Reichswehr (1919–35) Luftwaffe (1935–45) |
| Years of service | 1913–45 |
| Rank | General der Flakartillerie |
| Commands held |
Fallschirm-Panzer Division 1 Hermann Göring I. Flakkorps |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Walther Moritz Heinrich Wolfgang von Axthelm (23 December 1893 – 6 January 1972) was a highly decorated General der Flakartillerie in the Luftwaffe during World War II who commanded the 1. Flakkorps. He was also 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. Walther von Axthelm was captured in 1945 by American troops and was held until 1947.
Axthelm served with the Ministry of Aviation (Reichsluftfahrtministerium) from 12 January 1942 to the end of March 1945, holding the position of General der Flakwaffe (Inspector of Anti-Aircraft Artillery).
Awards and decorations
- Iron Cross (1914)
- 2nd Class (5 October 1914)
- 1st Class (25 August 1915)
- Wound Badge (1914)
- in Black (10 June 1918)
- Military Merit Order, 4th class with Swords and Crown (Bavaria)
- Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 with Swords (21 December 1934)
- Anschluss Medal (16 December 1938)
- Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle Bar
- Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class (29 May 1940)
- 1st Class (27 June 1940)
- Anti-Aircraft Flak Battle Badge (3 October 1941)
- Wehrmacht Long Service Award, 4th to 2nd class
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 4 September 1941 as Generalmajor and commander of the I. Flak-Korps[1][2]
References
- Citations
- Bibliography
- 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
- Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945
- World War 2 Awards.com
- Lexikon der Wehrmacht
- Walther von Axthelm @ Axis Biographical Research at the Wayback Machine (archived October 28, 2009)
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Oberstleutnant der Landespolizei Friedrich Wilhelm Jakoby |
Commander of Fallschirm-Panzer Division 1 Hermann Göring 13 August 1936 – 31 May 1940 |
Succeeded by Oberst Paul Conrath |
| Preceded by Generaloberst Hubert Weise |
Commander of I. Flakkorps 1 April 1941 – 20 December 1941 |
Succeeded by General der Flakartillerie Richard Reimann |
| Preceded by — |
General der Flakwaffe 12 January 1942 – 31 March 1945 |
Succeeded by General der Flakartillerie Wolfgang Pickert |
| Preceded by General der Flakartillerie Richard Reimann |
Commander of I. Flakkorps 2 May 1945 – 8 May 1945 |
Succeeded by None |
|