Gerhard Schacht

Gerhard Schacht
Born	6 April 1916 Steglitz, Berlin
Died	7 February 1972 (aged 55) Dortmund
Allegiance	Nazi Germany (to 1945)  West Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	?–1945 1956–72
Rank	Major i.G. (Wehrmacht) Oberst (Bundeswehr)
Unit	Fallschirmjäger-Sturmabteilung "Koch"
Commands held	Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 25
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of Fort Eben-Emael Battle of Crete North African Campaign Battle of Monte Cassino Eastern Front Battle of the Seelow Heights
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Gerhard Schacht (6 April 1916 – 7 February 1972) was a highly decorated Major i.G. in the Fallschirmjäger during World War II and an Oberst in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Awards and decorations

• Fallschirmschützenabzeichen
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (12 May 1940)^[1]
  • 1st Class (12 May 1940)^[1]
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black (26 June 1940)^[1]
  • in Silver (18 March 1945)^[1]
• Cuff title
  • "Kreta" (6 January 1943)^[1]
  • "Afrika" (6 January 1943)^[1]
• German Cross (21 December 1944)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 12 May 1940 as Leutnant and leader in Sturmgruppe "Beton" in the Fallschirmjäger-Sturmabteilung "Koch"^[2]
• Panzer Badge of the Heer in Bronze (18 March 1945)^[1]
• Close Combat Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Bronze (18 March 1945)^[1]

References

Citations

1. Thomas & Wegmann 1986, p. 244.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 302.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Kurowski, Franz (1995). Knights of the Wehrmacht Knight's Cross Holders of the Fallschirmjäger. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military. ISBN 978-0-88740-749-9.
• 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Thomas, Franz; Wegmann, Günter (1986). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil II: Fallschirmjäger [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part II: Paratroopers] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-1461-8.