__NOTOC__ Johannes Block (17 November 1894 – 26 January 1945) was a German 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 previou ...

during World War II who held commands at division and corps level. He was a recipient of the

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves 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' ...

. Block was killed on 26 January 1945 near Kielce, Poland during the Soviet Vistula-Oder Offensive.

Awards and decorations

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 e ...

(1914) 2nd Class (5 July 1916) & 1st Class (22 August 1918)Thomas 1997, p. 53. *

Clasp to the Iron Cross The Clasp to the Iron Cross (Spange zum Eisernen Kreuz) was a white metal medal clasp displayed on the uniforms of German Wehrmacht personnel who had been awarded the Iron Cross in World War I, and who again qualified for the decoration in Worl ...

(1939) 2nd Class (8 September 1939) & 1st Class (10 September 1939) *

** Knight's Cross on 22 December 1941 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 Swe ...

'' and commander of 202nd Infantry Regiment ** Oak Leaves on 22 November 1943 as ''

Generalleutnant is the Germanic variant of lieutenant general, used in some German speaking countries. Austria Generalleutnant is the second highest general officer rank in the Austrian Armed Forces (''Bundesheer''), roughly equivalent to the NATO rank of ...

'' and commander of 294th Infantry DivisionFellgiebel 2000, p. 64.

References

Citations Bibliography * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Block, Johannes 1894 births 1945 deaths People from Złotów County People from West Prussia German Army generals of World War II Generals of Infantry (Wehrmacht) German Army personnel of World War I Prussian Army personnel German military personnel killed in World War II Collaborators who participated in the Beer Hall Putsch Recipients of the clasp to the Iron Cross, 1st class Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Reichswehr personnel Nazis who participated in the Beer Hall Putsch 20th-century Freikorps personnel