Johann Paul Friedrich Drekmann (13 November 1893 – 9 March 1960) was a German officer, a ''Diplom-Ingenieur''In German an

engineer's degree An engineer's degree is an advanced academic degree in engineering which is conferred in Europe, some countries of Asia and Latin America, North Africa and a few institutions in the United States. The degree may require a thesis but always require ...

is called ''Diplom-Ingenieur'' (abbreviated ''Dipl.-Ing.'') and a highly decorated

Generalleutnant () is the German-language 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 ...

in the

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

during World War II. He was also a recipient of the

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (), 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. While it was order of precedence, lower in preceden ...

. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Paul Drekmann was captured by British troops in May 1945 and was held until 1947.

Awards and decorations

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, the German Empire (1871–1918), and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). The design, a black cross pattée with a white or silver outline, was derived from the in ...

(1914) ** 2nd Class (27 January 1916) ** 1st Class (9 October 1917) *

Hanseatic Cross The Hanseatic Cross () was a military decoration of the three Hanseatic city-states of Bremen, Hamburg and Lübeck, who were members of the German Empire during World War I. Each republic established its own version of the cross, but the design ...

of Hamburg (19 January 1917) *

Wound Badge The Wound Badge () was a German military decoration first promulgated by Wilhelm II, German Emperor on 3 March 1918, which was first awarded to soldiers of the Imperial German Army, German Army who were wounded during World War I. Between the worl ...

(1918) ** in Black (2 August 1918) *

The Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 The Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (), commonly referred to as the Hindenburg Cross or the German WWI Service Cross, was established by Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg, President of the German Weimar Republic, by an order dated 13 July ...

with Swords (15 January 1935) *

Wehrmacht Long Service Award The Wehrmacht Long Service Award () was a List of military decorations of the Third Reich, military service decoration of Nazi Germany issued for satisfactory completion of a number of years in military service. History On 16 March 1936, Adolf ...

, 4th to 1st Class *

Spanish Cross The Spanish Cross () was an award of Nazi Germany given to German troops who participated in the Spanish Civil War, fighting for nationalist general, later Spanish dictator, Francisco Franco. History With the outbreak of the Spanish Civil W ...

in Bronze (31 May 1939) *

Sudetenland Medal The 1 October 1938 Commemorative Medal () was commonly known as the Sudetenland Medal. It was a decoration of Nazi Germany awarded during the interwar period, and the second in a series of Occupation Medals. Description Instituted on 18 October ...

(12 September 1939) *

War Merit Cross The War Merit Cross () was a state decoration of Nazi Germany during World War II. By the end of the conflict it was issued in four degrees and had an equivalent civil award. A " de-Nazified" version of the War Merit Cross was reissued in 1957 ...

with Swords ** 2nd Class (30 January 1941) ** 1st Class (30 January 1942) *

Imperial Order of the Yoke and Arrows The Imperial Order of the Yoke and Arrows () was a Spanish state and military order. It was established in 1937 under the dictatorship of ''Caudillo'' Francisco Franco and discontinued in 1976 following Franco's death and during the Spanish tr ...

, Commander (''Encomienda Sencilla'') on 20 March 1941 *

(1939) ** 2nd Class (9 September 1942) ** 1st Class (20 October 1942) *

(1939) ** in Silver (23 February 1943) *

Honour Roll Clasp of the Army __NOTOC__ The Honour Roll Clasp () was a decoration of Nazi Germany during World War II. There were different versions for the Army ('' Heer''), Air Force (''Luftwaffe'') and Navy (''Kriegsmarine''). History The Honour Roll of the German Army () ...

(7 October 1943) *

German Cross The War Order of the German Cross (), 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 repeated acts of bravery or military leade ...

in Gold (15 April 1944) * Mentioned in the

Wehrmachtbericht ''Wehrmachtbericht'' (, literally: "Armed forces report", usually translated as Wehrmacht communiqué or Wehrmacht report) was the daily Wehrmacht High Command mass-media communiqué and a key component of Nazi propaganda during World War II. ...

(8 February 1945) *

on 28 March 1945 as ''

'' and commander of 252. Infanterie-DivisionFellgiebel 2000, p. 139.

External links

tracesofwar.com

Notes

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Drekmann, Paul 1893 births 1960 deaths Military personnel from the Province of Hanover Lieutenant generals of the German Army (Wehrmacht) German Army personnel of World War I Recipients of the clasp to the Iron Cross, 1st class German military personnel of the Spanish Civil War Recipients of the Gold German Cross Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross German prisoners of war in World War II held by the United Kingdom