Hans-Henning Freiherr von Beust

Hans-Henning Freiherr von Beust
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany
Service / branch	Heer Luftwaffe
Years of service	1931–1934 1936–1945 1957–1971
Rank	Oberst
Unit	Condor Legion Kampfgeschwader 27
Commands	Kampfgeschwader 27
Battles / wars	Spanish Civil War World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of Belgium Battle of France Battle of Dunkirk Battle of Britain Operation Barbarossa Siege of Odessa (1941) Siege of Sevastopol (1941–1942) Battle of Stalingrad Battle of Kursk Lower Dnieper Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Hans-Henning Freiherr von Beust^[a] (17 April 1913 – 27 March 1991) 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. Hans-Henning Freiherr von Beust was captured by American troops in May 1945 and was released in June 1947. He later joined the Bundeswehr in 1957 and retired in 1971.

Awards and decorations

• Flugzeugführerabzeichen
• Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords (6 June 1939)
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (16 September 1939)
  • 1st Class (23 June 1940)
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (24 October 1940)
• German Cross in Gold (10 May 1943)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 17 September 1941 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of III. / Kampfgeschwader 27 "Boelcke"
  • 336th Oak Leaves on 25 November 1943 as Oberstleutnant and Geschwaderkommodore of Kampfgeschwader 27 "Boelcke"

Footnotes

• ^a Regarding personal names: Freiherr is a former title (translated as 'Baron'). In Germany since 1919, it forms part of family names. The feminine forms are Freifrau and Freiin.

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
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• World War 2 Awards.com