__NOTOC__ Hans Kroh (13 May 1907 – 18 July 1967) was a German paratroop general in the

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the '' Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previo ...

and

Bundeswehr The ''Bundeswehr'' (, meaning literally: ''Federal Defence'') is the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. The ''Bundeswehr'' is divided into a military part (armed forces or ''Streitkräfte'') and a civil part, the military part con ...

and a recipient of the

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (german: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), or simply the Knight's Cross (), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. The Knight ...

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...

. Kroh started his military career in 1935; he transferred to the

Luftwaffe The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...

in 1936. He took part in the

Battle of Crete The Battle of Crete (german: Luftlandeschlacht um Kreta, el, Μάχη της Κρήτης), codenamed Operation Mercury (german: Unternehmen Merkur), was a major Axis airborne and amphibious operation during World War II to capture the island ...

for which he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 21 August 1941. In Africa Kroh served in the

Ramcke Parachute Brigade The Ramcke Parachute Brigade was a Luftwaffe paratroop (''Fallschirmjäger'') brigade which saw action in the Mediterranean Theatre during World War II. Operational history The brigade was formed in 1942 and sent to join the Afrika Korps in ...

. Kroh commanded the 2nd Parachute Division in the

Battle for Brest The Battle for Brest was fought in August and September 1944 on the Western Front during World War II. Part of the overall Battle for Brittany and the Allied plan for the invasion of mainland Europe called for the capture of port facilities, ...

; he was taken prisoner on 18 September 1944. Kroh joined the

in 1956 as

Oberst ''Oberst'' () is a senior field officer rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, and Norway. The Swedish ...

. In 1957 he was promoted to

Brigadegeneral Brigadier general ( da, Brigadegeneral; german: Brigadegeneral) is the Germanic variant of Brigadier general. Belgium The rank of ( nl-BE, Brigadegeneraal; french: Général de Brigade) is used by the Belgian Land Component, Air Component and ...

and appointed a divisional commander. He retired in 1962 at the rank of Generalmajor. Kroh died in 1967.

Awards

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (german: link=no, Eisernes Kreuz, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1871–1918) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). King Frederick William III of Prussia es ...

2nd Class (22 May 1940) & 1st Class (22 May 1940)Thomas 1997, p. 411. * Medaglia d'Argento al Valor Militare (9 February 1942)Thomas & Wegmann 1986, p. 150. *

German Cross The War Order of the German Cross (german: Der Kriegsorden Deutsches Kreuz), normally abbreviated to the German Cross or ''Deutsches Kreuz'', was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 28 September 1941. It was awarded in two divisions: in gold for repe ...

in Gold on 24 December 1942 as '' Major'' in the I./Lw.Jg.Brig. 1Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 255. *

** Knight's Cross on 21 August 1941 as ''Major'' and commander I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2Scherzer 2007, p. 476. ** 443rd Oak Leaves on 6 April 1944 as ''

Oberstleutnant () is a senior field officer rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Lieutenant colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, and Norway. The Swedi ...

'' and commander of the Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2 ** 96th Schwerter on 12 September 1944 as ''

'' and leader of the 2. Fallschirmjäger-Division * Great Cross of Merit (12 September 1962)

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kroh, Hans 1907 births 1967 deaths Military personnel from Heidelberg People from the Grand Duchy of Baden Fallschirmjäger of World War II Bundeswehr generals Recipients of the Gold German Cross Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords Recipients of the Silver Medal of Military Valor Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Major generals of the Luftwaffe Luftwaffe World War II generals Major generals of the German Army