Erwin Fischer

Erwin Fischer
Born	14 August 1912 Dresden
Died	10 December 1996(1996-12-10) (aged 84) Hamburg
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1934–45
Rank	Major
Unit	Aufklärungsgruppe 121
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Operation Weserübung Battle of France Battle of Britain North African Campaign Siege of Malta Eastern Front
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Erwin Fischer (14 August 1912 – 10 December 1996) was a highly decorated Major 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. Erwin Fischer was captured by British troops in May 1945 and was released in August 1945.

Awards and decorations

• Aviator badge
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (18 September 1939)
  • 1st Class (23 July 1940)
• German Cross in Gold on 26 February 1942 as Oberleutnant in the 1.(F)/Aufklärungs-Gruppe 121
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 21 April 1941 as Oberleutnant and pilot in the 1.(F)/Aufklärungs-Gruppe 121
  • 191st Oak Leaves on 8 February 1943 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of the 1./Fernaufklärungs-Gruppe 121

References

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 (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
• 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
• Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Luftwaffe 39-45