Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)

Unit:

Gruppenkommandeur

Awarded on:

February 1st, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Lufttransportgruppe Don, Luftwaffen-Kommando Don, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

January 24th, 1943

During the fighting in the southern sector of the Eastern front in late 1942, an ad-hoc Kampfgruppe under the command of Oberstleutnant Tyroller found itself in the middle of the Soviet onslaught. Consisting of about 2000 men (from 65 different units), they were charged with holding the town of Kantemirovka on the middle Don. Though they were able to defeat every Soviet assault on their strongpoint, they could not stop the enemy from bypassing and encircling their position. Precarious as their situation was, they had one major advantage in that they possessed an airfield within the perimeter of the pocket.

Hauptmann Geisler and his Lufttransportgruppe Don were thus tasked with the resupply of Kampfgruppe Tyroller. For four weeks long the Gruppe managed to keep the aerial supply chain open, permitting the Kampfgruppe to conduct a successful defense of their positions. However after a month of fighting, in view of the overall situation in the south, the position became untenable. In light of the near-impossibility of a breakout, Hitler had the idea of evacuating the entire pocket by air, a task which once again fell to Geisler and his transport pilots.

Over the course of three nights, and despite the difficult winter conditions, the Gruppe was nonetheless able to accomplish their mission. A total of 1957 men were flown out to safety. In recognition of his Gruppe’s achievements in both the aerial resupply and evacuation of Kampfgruppe Tyroller, Geisler would be awarded the Knight’s Cross.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)