Walter Sigel

Walter Sigel
Born	12 January 1906 Ulm
Died	8 May 1944(1944-05-08) (aged 38) Trondheimsfjord
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer (1934–1935) Luftwaffe (1935–1944)
Years of service	1934–1944
Rank	Oberst
Unit	Sturzkampfgeschwader 3
Commands held	Sturzkampfgeschwader 3
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Bombing of Wieluń Battle of Belgium Battle of France Balkans Campaign Battle of Crete North African Campaign Battle of Gazala Battle of Anzio
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Walter Sigel (12 January 1906 – 8 May 1944) 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. Walter Sigel died on 8 May 1944 after crashing his Fieseler Storch into the Trondheimfjord.

Awards and decorations

• Flugzeugführerabzeichen
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (17 September 1939)
  • 1st Class (20 June 1940)
• German Cross in Gold (24 April 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 21 July 1940 as Hauptmann and commander of I./Sturzkampfgeschwader 3
  • 116th Oak Leaves on 2 September 1942 as Oberstleutnant and Geschwaderkommodore of Schlachtgeschwader 3
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (21 June 1942)

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
• Obermaier, Ernst (1976). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe 1939–1945 Band II Stuka- und Schlachtflieger (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 3-87341-021-4.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). 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.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht

Military offices
Preceded by Oberstleutnant Karl Christ	Commander of Sturzkampfgeschwader 3 1 September 1941 – 1 April 1943	Succeeded by Oberst Kurt Kuhlmey