__NOTOC__ Richard Schimpf (16 May 1897 – 30 December 1972) was a paratroop general in the

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

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German Reich, German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a Totalit ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. He was 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 ...

. On 8 March 1945, he negotiated a surrender to American troops at Bad Godesberg, handing himself and the city over without a shot being fired. He joined the post war West German

Air Force An air force in the broadest sense is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army aviati ...

in 1957 and retired in 1962 as a

Generalmajor is the Germanic languages, Germanic variant of major general, used in a number of Central Europe, Central and Northern European countries. Austria Belgium Denmark is the second lowest general officer rank in the Royal Danish Army and R ...

Awards and decorations

Clasp to the Iron Cross Clasp, clasper or CLASP may refer to: * Book clasp, fastener for a book cover * Folding clasp, a device used to close a watch strap * Lobster clasp, fastener for jewellery * Wrist clasp, a dressing accessory * Medal bar, an element in militar ...

(1939) 2nd Class (5 August 1940) & 1st Class (17 February 1941)Thomas & Wegmann 1986, p. 254. *

on 6 October 1944 as ''

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 ...

'' and commander of 3. Fallschirmjäger Division Fellgiebel 2000, p. 307. *

Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (, or , BVO) is the highest state decoration, federal decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It may be awarded for any field of endeavor. It was created by the first List of president ...

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Schimpf, Richard 1897 births 1972 deaths People from Rottal-Inn Military personnel from the Kingdom of Bavaria Bundeswehr generals Fallschirmjäger of World War II German Army personnel of World War I Luftwaffe World War II generals Recipients of the clasp to the Iron Cross, 1st class Recipients of the Gold German Cross Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Grand Crosses with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany German prisoners of war in World War II held by the United Kingdom German prisoners of war in World War II held by the United States Reichswehr personnel Military personnel from Bavaria Lieutenant generals of the Luftwaffe Major generals of the German Army