Franz Kieslich

Franz Kieslich
Born	17 March 1913 Bochum
Died	31 August 2012(2012-08-31) (aged 99)
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Template:Luftwaffe Template:GAF
Years of service	1935–1945 1956–1969
Rank	Major (Wehrmacht) Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr)
Unit	StG 168 StG 77 SG 77
Commands	III./SG 77
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Other work	Police officer

Franz Kieslich (17 March 1913 – 31 August 2012) was a German officer in the Luftwaffe during World War II and recipient 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. During his career, Franz Kieslich was credited with flying 1078 missions, sinking 10 ships totaling 23,000 BRT, a destroyer and a submarine.

Awards

• Aviator badge (22 February 1937)
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant "1000"
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (5 May 1941)
  • 1st Class (10 August 1941)
• German Cross in Gold on 10 July 1942 as Oberleutnant in the 7./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 5 January 1943 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 7./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
  • 619th Oak Leaves on 10 October 1944 as leader of the III./Schlachtgeschwader 77.

References

Bibliography

• Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7. {{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 Militaer-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)