Date of birth:

December 30th, 1919 (Berlin/Brandenburg, Germany)

Date of death:

March 19th, 1993 (Fort Lauderdale/Florida, United States)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Promotions:
March 1st, 1940: Oberpionier;
June 11tn, 1940: Gefreiter;
January 1st, 1941: Unteroffizier;
January 15th, 1941: Ernennung zum K.O.A.;
March 17th, 1941: Feldwebel;
April 30th, 1941: Leutnant;
March 1st, 1943: Oberleutnant;
August 28th, 1944: Hauptmann;
February 28th, 1945: Major.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Führer, Fallschirm-Pionier-Bataillon 5, 5. Fallschirmjäger-Division, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

December 6th, 1944

Awarded for his actions following the Battle of Normandy. During the German retreat through France his Pionier-Bataillon was attached to the 9. Panzer-Division. Up until the 03.09.1944, between Frouard and Lanéville in the area around Nancy, Mertins and his Bataillon blew up a total of 46 bridges in a fluid combat situation. In doing so they greatly facilitated the retreat of the German forces in this area, and for his leadership of the Bataillon during this time Hauptmann Mertins would be decorated with the Knight’s Cross.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Führer Fallschirm-Pionier-Bataillon 5 / 5. Fallschirmjäger-Division

Awarded on:

March 9th, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

February 15th, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

December 6th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

December 6th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

4. Kompanie, Fallschirm-Pionier-Bataillon, 7. Flieger-Division, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

February 8th, 1943

According to the Vorschlag of the Ritterkreuz awarded on 1-3-1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 25th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 7th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 1st, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

March 27th, 1941

• Photo 1: Igor Poul
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - KUROWSKI, F., Knight's Cross Holders of the Fallschirmjäger, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., Atglen, United States, 1995.
  - PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1986.
  - Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht Teil 2: Fallschirmjäger, Franz Thomas & Günter Wegmann, Biblio Verlag - Osnabrück 1986
  - Vorschlag für die Verleihung des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes