Joachim Pötter

Joachim Pötter
File:RK EK-2.png
Born	1 January 1913 Metz, Alsace-Lorraine
Died	17 November 1992 Kronburg / Oberbayern, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany
Service / branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1940–45 1955–71
Rank	Oberst
Unit	Kampfgeshwader 77 (KG 77)
Commands	I. Gruppe (Gruppenkommandeure)
Battles / wars	World War II Poland Campaign France Campaign Belgium Campaign Btritain Campaign Soviet Union campaign
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Joachim Pötter (1 January 1913 – 17 November 19921992) was a German World War II bomber pilot. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 16 April 1942

Biography

Joachim Pötter was born in Metz, Alsace-Lorraine, on 1 January 1913. Pötter joined the German Army straight from school. Pötter began a brilliant career in the Luftwaffe. After various assignments in France and on the Eastern Front, Pötter became an ace. Joachim Pötter was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./KG 77 commanded the first Group of the Kampfgeschwader 77 on 25 October 1941. He was eventually awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 16 April 1942. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross principally was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II. Pötter participated on all of the major fronts in the European Theatre, until the dissolution of his unit in 1944.

When he returned to West Germany after war, Pötter enlisted again in the new German army, the Bundeswehr, in 1955. He became colonel (Oberst) in the West German Air Force (Bundesluftwaffe). After his military retirement, on marsch 1971, Joachim Pötter died on 17 November 1992

Awards

• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 16 April 1942 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Kampfgeschwader 77

References

Bibliography

• de Zeng, H.L; Stanket, D.G; Creek, E.J. Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-1945; A Reference Source, Volume 1. Ian Allan Publishing, 2007. ISBN 978-1-85780-279-5
• de Zeng, H.L; Stanket, D.G; Creek, E.J. Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-1945; A Reference Source, Volume 2. Ian Allan Publishing, 2007. ISBN 978-1-903223-87-1
• 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)
• 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)

External links

• Kampfgeschwader 77 on lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de