Mickl, Johann

Date of birth:: April 18th, 1893 (Zelting/Styria, Austria)
Date of death:: April 10th, 1945 (Rijeka/Croatia, Yugoslavia)
Buried on:: German War Graves Zagreb
Plot: 82-6. Row: 10. Grave: 297.
Nationality:: Austrian

Biography

On April 9. 1945 Generalleutnant Mickl then commanding the 392. Infanterie-Division (kroatische) was involved in the Battle of Vratnik Pass near Senj in Croatia. There he was fatally wounded when a bullet fired by a Yugoslavian partisan struck him in the head. He died the next day in hospital in Rijeka.

Promotions:
August 1st, 1914: Leutnant (K.u.K.);
May 1st, 1915: Oberleutnant;
January 1st, 1921: Hauptmann (Österreischisches Bundesheer);
September 25th, 1928: Major;
January 16th, 1936: Oberstleutnant;
March 13th, 1938: Oberstleutnant (Reichsheer)
June 1st, 1940: Oberst;
March 1st, 1943: Generalmajor;
April 1st, 1944: Generalleutnant.

Career:
1908 - 1911: Landwehr-Kadettenanstalt Wien;
1911 - 1914: Offiziersanwärter Theresianische Militärakademie, Wiener Neustadt;
August 18th, 1914: Kompanieführer 2. Kompanie / k.k. Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment 4;
April 15th, 1915: Lehrer Ersatz-Bataillon / k.k. Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment 4;
1919: Deutschösterreichischen Volkswehr;
February 15th, 1935: Generalstabsoffizier, 3. Brigade Niederösterreich, St. Pölten;
January 1936: Erster Generalstabsoffizier (Ia), Division Niederösterreich;
November 10th, 1938: Abteilungskommandeur, Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 42, 2. Leichten Division;
December 10th, 1940: Kommandeur Schützen-Regiment 7;
June 1st, 1941: Kommandeur Schützen-Regiment 155, 90. leichten Afrika-Division;
March 25th, 1942: Kommandeur 12. Schützen-Brigade;
May 24th, 1943: Führer 11. Panzer-Division;
?: Führerreserve;
August 13th, 1943: 392. (kroatischen) Infanterie-Division.

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Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur, Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 42, 2. leichte Division, Heer
Awarded on:: October 1st, 1939

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur, Panzerjäger-Abteilung 42, 7. Panzer-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: June 15th, 1940

The promotion to Oberst was backdated, this way he still hel the rank of Oberstleutnant at the time of awarding.

Panzerkampfabzeichen (ohne Zahl)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberst (Colonel)
Awarded on:: September 24th, 1940

Bronze version.

Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberst (Colonel)
Awarded on:: December 25th, 1941

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur, Schützen-Regiment 155, 90. leichte Afrika-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: December 31st, 1941

On the 26.11.1941 the Schützen-Regiment 155 (under the commander of Oberst Mickl) stood as the right wing of Kampfgruppe Boettcher south of Sidi Rezegh. On this day Mickl led his regimental staff into the attack of his unit. He managed to get his pinned down 7. Kompanie moving again, and with these troops he was among the first to storm the English positions. For this brave deed he would be decorated with the Knight’s Cross.

Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberst (Colonel)
Awarded on:: July 22nd, 1942

Silver version.

Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25, 12. Panzer-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: March 6th, 1943

Awarded for his actions during the winter of 1942/43 as part of the 12. Panzer-DIvision in the area around Rzhev. Here he took over command of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25 after its commander had fallen, and in a series of fluid defensive and offensive battles he was able to crush multiple heavy Soviet attacks.

205th Award.