Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

July 18th, 1915

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

January 17th, 1916

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Gebirgs-Artillerie-Regiment 112, 3. Gebirgs-Divison, Heer

Awarded on:

October 22nd, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Gebirgs-Artillerie-Regiment 112, 3. Gebirgs-Divison, Heer

Awarded on:

June 10th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Awarded on:

November 10th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalmajor (Brigadier)

Awarded on:

June 9th, 1941

Mentioning:
"The parachute units under the leadership of Generalmajor Meindl, Oberst Heidrich, Oberst Bräuer, Oberst Ramke and Oberst Sturm, created in hard fighting, the crucial conditions for the conquest of Crete.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalmajor (Brigadier)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Luftlande-Sturm-Regiment 1, Heer

Awarded on:

June 14th, 1941

Awarded for his leadership of the Sturm-Regiment Meindl during the battle of Crete. His Regiment captured the airfield at Maleme and thereby ensured the eventual German victory on the island. Meindl, who was wounded by an enemy MG, continued to direct his soldiers from a stretcher and thus proved to be an example of determined leadership for all of his soldiers in this battle.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalmajor (Brigadier)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Luftlande-Sturm-Regiment 1, Heer

Awarded on:

October 25th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalmajor (Brigadier)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Luftwaffen-Division Meindl, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

August 9th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalmajor (Brigadier)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Luftwaffen-Division Meindl, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

July 27th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 25th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Genral der Fallschirmtruppe (Lieutenant-general)

Unit:

Kommandierender General, II. Fallschirmkorps, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

August 31st, 1944

Awarded for his leadership of the II. Fallschirm-Korps during the battle of Normandy as well as the breakout he conducted from the Falaise pocket with the 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division.

564th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Genral der Fallschirmtruppe (Lieutenant-general)

Unit:

Kommandierender General, II. Fallschirmkorps, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

May 8th, 1945

Meindl’s Swords’ recommendation reads as follows…

“On the 10.02.1945 the Canadians and British achieved a breakthrough west of Cleve and in the Reichswald with the support of hitherto unseen quantities of artillery, tank and air support. In response General Meindl, commanding general of the II. Fallschirm-Korps, received the mission to construct a new defensive live on both sides of Goch and prevent a further advance of the enemy.

Thanks to the flexible leadership and personality of General Meindl it was possible for the hard pressed Heer and Fallschirmjäger units to recreate a continuous front and offer the toughest possible resistance in the face of the enemy. By his personal presence at the frontline in the thick of heavy enemy artillery and bomber strikes, General Meindl was able to inspire his soldiers to great combat achievements through his own example. During their attacks against the front of the II. Fallschirm-Korps the enemy suffered heavy losses in men and materiel and were unable to secure a decisive breakthrough.

General Meindl especially distinguished himself through personal bravery on the 06.03.1945. On that day the enemy threatened to split the Wesel bridgehead into two parts by an armoured thrust along the Issum-Alpen road. Immediately recognizing the great danger this posed, General Meindl personally assembled a Kompanie (consisting of 60 men) near Grünthal. He then personally led these men against the enemy and was able to throw them back despite heavy tank fire. This bold counterattack ensured that the cohesion of the bridgehead could be maintained.

On the 07.03.1945 the leadership of the II. Fallschirm-Korps was transferred to the Wesel bridgehead. Once again the personal example of General Meindl ensured that the Fallschirmjäger deployed here could offer their toughest resistance possible. As a result all the German troops in the bridgehead were pulled back to the eastern bank of the Rhine with their light and heavy weapons.

On the 10.03.1945 the railway bridge leading from Wesel was incompletely demolished due to a technical failure. General Meindl thus set up an anti-tank blocking position and enabled the remainder of the bridge to be destroyed. He was thereafter the last to leave the now completely unusable bridge.

During all the heavy fighting of the II. Fallschirm-Korps General Meindl, who was always present where the danger was greatest, led his formations with both flexibility and firmness despite the unyielding pressure the battles presented. In the process he also showed great personal bravery himself.

General Meindl is thus especially worthy of the high award of the Oakleaves with Swords to the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross.”


155th Award.
A formal awarding is not known. The recommendation was supported by General der Fallschirmtruppen Schlemm on March 23rd, 1945, Generaloberst Blaskowitz, Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe H on March 28th, Generalfeldmarschall Kesselring, Oberbefehlshaber West, April 9th and Reichsmarschall Göring, Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe on April 10th.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded with Swords

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded with Swords.

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded with "Kriegsdekoration" (War Decoration).

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)