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Greim, Ritter von, Robert

Date of birth:
June 22nd, 1892 (Bayreuth/Oberfranken, Germany)
Date of death:
May 24th, 1945 (Salzburg, Austria)
Buried on:
Austrian/German War Graves Salzburg
Nationality:
German

Biography

During the First World War, Robert Ritter von Greim was among other decorations, awarded with the Pour le Merite (14th October 1918) and the Bayerischer Militär-Max-Joseph-Orden (23rd October 1918). During the Second World War he was one of the leading Luftwaffe commanders. When at the end of April 1945 reached the message that he was to report to Hitler personnaly at the Führerbunker in the already besieged Berlin, he was flown there by pilot Hanna Reitsch in a daring action. Here Hitler appointed him the new Oberbefehlshaber der Lufwaffe hereby replacing the sacked Hermann Göring and promoted Hitler him to Generalfeldmarschall. On the way back from Berlin he was wounded by shell fire. He committed suicide on 24th May 1945 as American prisoner of war in a field hospital in Salzburg.

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Rank:
Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
I. Bataillon, Königlich Bayerisches 8. Feldartillerie-Regiment „Prinz Heinrich von Preußen“
Awarded on:
March 1912
award uncertain
Prinzregent Luitpold-Medaille
Rank:
Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
I. Bataillon, Königlich Bayerisches 8. Feldartillerie-Regiment „Prinz Heinrich von Preußen“
Awarded on:
April 1914
IV. Klasse des Militärverdienstordens
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
I. Bataillon, Königlich Bayerisches 8. Feldartillerie-Regiment „Prinz Heinrich von Preußen“, 6. Armee
Awarded on:
November 26th, 1914
awarded for his beahviour during the combat in the Bois d'Ailly
Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (1914)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
Beobachter, Feldflieger Abteilung 3b
Awarded on:
April 14th, 1915
with swords
IV. Klasse des Militärverdienstordens
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
Beobachter, Feldflieger Abteilung 3b
Awarded on:
October 11th, 1915
for having shot down a Farman MF.11 from French Escadrille Spa.69. The Farman crashed near Deuxnouds, killing Sergeant Henri Mahien and Lieutenant Henri Mérillion the 10.10.1915
Eisernes Kreuz 1.Klasse (1914)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
December 1915
Abzeichen für Beobachtungsoffiziere aus Flugzeugen
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
1916
Ehrenbecher für den Sieger im Luftkampfe
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
April 24th, 1917
holder of the Bavarian badge
Königlich Preußische Militär-Flugzeugführer-Abzeichen
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:
Jagdstaffel 34
Awarded on:
April 25th, 1917
with swords and crown
other sources give 18.05.1917
IV. Klasse des Militärverdienstordens
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
April 29th, 1918
Ritter des Königlicher Preussischer Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:
Führer, Jasta 34
Awarded on:
October 14th, 1918
other sources give 08.10.1918
for 28 aerial victories

Nr.: 5347
Pour le Mérite
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
1918
WIA 02.07.1918
Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (1918)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
1918
Holder of the Bavarian badge
Königlich Preussisches Flieger Erinnerungs-Abzeichen
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
1920
Goldene Prinzregent Luitpold-Medaille
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:
Führer, Jagdstaffel 34
Awarded on:
November 23rd, 1920
backdated to the 23.10.1918
Ritterkreuz zum Militär-Max-Joseph-Orden
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
1934
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  3.Klasse, 12 Jahre
Awarded on:
1937
Gemeinsames Flugzeugfuhrer-Beobachter Abzeichen (ohne brillianten)
Awarded on:
December 16th, 1938
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
Awarded on:
1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

Had already received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 26th November 1914.
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

Had already received the Iron Cross 1st Class on 10th October 1915.
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalleutnant (Air Vice Marshall)
Awarded on:
June 20th, 1940
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalleutnant (Air Vice Marshall)
Unit:
Kommandierender General, V. Fliegerkorps, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
June 24th, 1940
Awarded for the assistance his Flieger-Korps rendered to German ground troops during the breakthrough of the Maginot Line.

76th Award.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
General der Flieger (Air Marshall)
Unit:
Kommandierender General, V. Fliegerkorps
Awarded on:
May 12th, 1941
Orden Imperial del Yugo y las Flechas Gran Cruz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
General der Flieger (Air Marshall)
Awarded on:
November 22nd, 1941
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generaloberst (Air Chief Marshall)
Unit:
Befehlshaber, Luftwaffenkommando Ost, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
April 2nd, 1943
Awarded for the outstanding support that his Luftflotte gave in terms of both ground and air support to the forces of Heeresgruppe Mitte.

216th Award.
Luftwaffenkommando Ost was redesignated Luftflotte 6 on 6-5-1943.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
General der Flieger (Air Marshall)
Awarded on:
January 19th, 1942
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generaloberst (Air Chief Marshall)
Awarded on:
September 3rd, 1943
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generaloberst (Air Chief Marshall)
Unit:
Oberstbefehlshaber, Luftflotte 6, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
August 28th, 1944
Awarded for the outstanding support that his Luftflotte gave in terms of both ground and air support to the forces of Heeresgruppe Mitte.

92nd Award.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generaloberst (Air Chief Marshall)
Awarded on:
September 9th, 1944
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generaloberst (Air Chief Marshall)
Awarded on:
October 31st, 1944
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
January 30th, 1945
Goldenes Ehrenzeichen der NSDAP
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generaloberst (Air Chief Marshall)
Awarded on:
April 17th, 1945

Awarding document for the Flugzeugfuhrers- und beobachtersabzeichen mit brillanten to Generaloberst Robert Ritter von Greim, dated 17th April 1945.
Gemeinsames Flugzeugfuhrer-Beobachter Abzeichen mit Brillianten

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Themes