Adolf Strauß

Adolf Strauss
Adolf Strauss (right)
Born	(1879-09-06)6 September 1879 Schermcke
Died	20 March 1973(1973-03-20) (aged 93) Lübeck
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1898–1945
Rank	Generaloberst
Commands held	II. Armeekorps
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Adolf Strauss (6 September 1879 – 20 March 1973) was a German Generaloberst (Colonel General). He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Early life

Strauß was born in Schermcke, Saxony-Anhalt.

Career

On March 15, 1898, Strauss joined the Imperial German Army, (the Reichsheer). After serving various roles throughout World War I, Strauss was retained in the Reichswehr. On December 1, 1934 he was promoted to Major General.

As Commanding General of the Second Army Corps, Strauss participated in Polenfeldzug, the German Invasion of Poland. On May 30, 1940, he was appointed Oberbefehlshaber of the 9th Army in France.

Strauß then moved East for Operation Barbarossa with Army Group Centre.

For health reasons, he stepped down from command on January 16, 1943. After his recovery, he was appointed as Commandant of the Fortified Eastern area.

Later life

After the war he was held in British captivity until being released in May 1949. He died on 20 March 1973 in Lübeck.

Decorations

• Iron Cross (1914) II. and I. Class
• Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Knight's Cross with Swords
• Hanseatic Cross, Bremen and Lübeck
• Military Cross of Merit, Principality of Lippe
• Military Merit Cross (Austria) III. Class
• Honour Cross for Combatants
• Wehrmacht Long Service Award IV. to I. Class
• Clasp for Iron Cross II. and I. Class
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 October 1939 as General der Infanterie and commanding general of the II. Armeekorps^[1]
• Mentioned four times in the Wehrmachtbericht on 6 August 1941 (extra), 7 August 1941, 18 October 1941 (extra) and 19 October 1941

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 (in German). Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militär-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.

External links

• Historic.de – Biography and Pictures