Bernhard Flachs

Bernhard Flachs
Born	2 April 1915 Plauen
Died	8 December 1944 (aged 29) Cologne
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1934–44
Rank	Oberstleutnant (posthumously)
Commands held	Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 277
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Eastern Front
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Bernhard Flachs (2 April 1915 – 8 December 1944) was a highly decorated Oberstleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Flachs was killed near Cologne while acting as Inspector of the Assault Gun School. He was posthumously promoted to Oberstleutnant

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (5 October 1939)^[1][2]
  • 1st Class (31 May 1940)^[1][2]
• General Assault Badge (23 January 1942)^[1]
• Wound Badge
  • in Black
  • in Silver
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze
• Eastern Front Medal (16 August 1942)^[1]
• German Cross in Gold on 24 May 1942 as Hauptmann in the 6./Artillerie-Regiment 14 (motorized)^[3]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 30 October 1942 as Hauptmann and Ia (operations officer) in the Stab of Artillerie-Kommandant (Arko) 149^[4]
  • 381st Oak Leaves on 31 January 1944 as Hauptmann and commander of Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 277^[5]

References

Citations

1. Thomas & Wegmann 1985, p. 88.
2. Thomas 1997, p. 169.
3. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 116.
4. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 182.
5. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 66.

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.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• 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 Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Thomas, Franz; Wegmann, Günter (1985). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil I: Sturmartillerie [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part I: Assault Artillery] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-1447-2.
• Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.