Walther von Axthelm

Walther Moritz Heinrich Wolfgang von Axthelm
Born	23 December 1893 Hersbruck
Died	6 January 1972(1972-01-06) (aged 78) Traunstein
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Deutsches Heer (1913–1918) Reichswehr (1919–1935) Luftwaffe (1935–1945)
Years of service	1913–1945
Rank	General der Flakartillerie
Commands held	Fallschirm-Panzer Division 1 Hermann Göring I. Flakkorps
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Annexation of Austria Annexation of the Sudetenland Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Kiev (1941) Battle of Moscow
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.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (5 October 1914)
  • 1st Class (25 August 1915)
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black (10 June 1918)
• Cross of Honor (21 December 1934)
• Anschluss Medal (16 December 1938)
• Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle Bar
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (29 May 1940)
  • 1st Class (27 June 1940)
• Anti-Aircraft Flak Battle Badge (3 October 1941)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 4 September 1941 as Generalmajor and commander of the I. Flak-Korps

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.
• 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

• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945
• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Walther von Axthelm @ Axis Biographical Research

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 Flakartillerie Richard Reimann	Commander of I. Flakkorps 2 May 1945 - 8 May 1945	Succeeded by None