Alexander Löhr

Infobox Military Person
name=Alexander Löhr
lived=20 May 1885 – 26 February 1947
placeofbirth=Turnu-Severin, Romania
placeofdeath=Belgrade


caption=
nickname=
allegiance=Austria-Hungary (to 1918)
First Austrian Republic (to 1938)
Nazi Germany
branch=Heer
serviceyears=1906-1945
rank=General der Flieger
commands=Luftflotte 4
Heeresgruppe E
unit=
battles=World War I
World War II
awards="Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves"
laterwork=

Alexander Löhr (20 May 1885 – 26 February 1947) was an Austrian Air Force ("Österreichische Luftstreitkräfte") commander during the 1930s and, after the "Political Union of Germany and Austria" ("Anschluss"), he was a German Air Force ("Luftwaffe") commander during the Second World War.

Löhr was born in Turnu-Severin, Romania, and he was executed by firing squad in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, for his role as the commander of the German Air Force units involved in the Bombing of Belgrade in 1941.

Early career

Löhr served as Platoon Commander of a Pioneer battalion in the 85th Infantry Regiment of the Austro-Hungarian army in World War I.

By 1921 Löhr had reached the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel ("Oberstleutnant"). Between 1921 and 1934 he held many staff positions in the military, including Director of the Air Force in the Federal Armies Ministry. In 1934, he was made Commander of the small Austrian Air Force, a position which he held until the "Anschluss" in 1938.

Luftwaffe

On 15 March 1938, Löhr was transferred to the German Air Force ("Luftwaffe") where he became commander of the German Air Force in Austria. By then he had been promoted to Lieutenant-General ("Generalleutnant"). He was commander of Luftflotte (Air Fleet) 4 in the East from May 1939 until June 1942. Luftflotte 4 carried out the bombing of Warsaw Poland in September 1939 and of Belgrade Yugoslavia in April 1941. Löhr commanded the 12th Army from July 12 1942 through to December 1942.

From 1 January to 23 August 1943, Löhr was Commander-in-Chief of the South East. He was also the Commander-in-Chief of Army Group E from 1 January up to the end of the war. As Commander-in-Chief of Army Group E, Löhr oversaw the successful Dodecanese Campaign.

Löhr was imprisoned by the Yugoslavs from 15 May 1945 to 26 February 1947. He was found guilty of war crimes for the mass-murders of Yugoslav civilians and executed by firing squad on 26 February 1947.

Decorations [* [http://www.geocities.com/~orion47/WEHRMACHT/LUFTWAFFE/Generaloberst/LOEHR_ALEXANDER.html Generaloberst Alexander Löhr] bio at the [http://www.geocities.com/~orion47/ Axis Biographical Research] website]

* 1939 Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Classes
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (September 30, 1939)
* Oakleaves (January 20, 1945)
* Austro-Hungarian Franz Joseph Order, Knight's Cross with War Decoration
* Austro-Hungarian Military Merit Cross 3rd Class with War Decoration and Swords
* Austro-Hungarian Bronze Military Merit Medal ("Signum Laudis") on the War Ribbon with Swords
* Austro-Hungarian Silver Military Merit Medal ("Signum Laudis") on the War Ribbon with Swords
* Austro-Hungarian Wound Medal with four stripes (four wounds)
* Bavarian Military Merit Order 4th Class with Swords

ee also

* Yugoslav People's Liberation War
* Dodecanese Campaign

References

* Walther-Peer Fellgiebel (2000), "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5

Notes