Eugen Meindl

Infobox Military Person
name=Eugen Meindl
lived=birth date|1892|7|16|df=y — death date and age|1951|1|24|1892|7|16|df=y
placeofbirth=Donaueschingen
placeofdeath=Munich


caption=
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|German Empire German Empire (to 1918)
flagicon|Germany Weimar Republic (to 1933)
flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
branch=Luftwaffe
serviceyears=1912-1945
rank=General der Fallschirmtruppe
commands=
unit=
battles=World War I
World War II
*Battle of Crete
awards=Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
laterwork=

Eugen Meindl (16 July 1892 – 24 January 1951) was a highly decorated German Fallschirmjäger and general during World War II.

Biography

Eugen Meindl was born in Donaueschingen. He served with the artillery from July 27, 1912. In World War I he commanded a platoon and later a battery and subsequently served as adjutant with the 67th Artillery Regiment and with the Artillery Commander, 52nd Corps.

Meindl served with various artillery units in the Reichswehr. Promoted to Hauptmann on August 1, 1924, he was assigned to the Reichwehr Ministry on September 14, 1926 and spent the ten years there before being promoted to Major.

On November 10, 1939 Oberstleutnant Meindl was named commander of the 112th Mountain Artillery Regiment in Graz. As an Oberst he led the “Meindl Group” and made his very first parachute jump at Narvik. His transfer to the Luftwaffe followed on November 28, 1940, even though he had been commander of the “Assault Regiment Meindl” of the parachute troops since August 9. The airborne invasion of Crete saw Meindl jump near the Platanias Bridge, where he was shot through the chest. Major Edgar Stentzler led the regiment until Oberst Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke arrived.

On February 26, 1942 Generalmajor Meindl became commander of the newly formed Luftwaffe Division Meindl in Russia and on September 26 he took over XII Fliegerkorps (later I Luftwaffe Field Corps).

Meindl distinguished himself in the winter fighting in Russia, was named in the Wehrmachtbericht and on November 5, 1943 was promoted to commanding general of II Parachute Corps, which he led in the west on the invasion front and later at Cleve and in the Reichswald. Meindl’s corps fought with distinction at Goch and in the Wesel bridgehead. Meindl was taken prisoner and held until September 29, 1947. He died in Munich.

Awards

* Wound Badge in Black
* "Kreta" Cuffband
* German Cross in Gold (27 July 1942)
* Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
** Knight's Cross (14 June 1941)
** 564. Oak Leaves (31 August 1944)
** 155. Swords (8 May 1945)

References

* Berger, Florian, "Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges". Selbstverlag Florian Berger, 2006. ISBN 3-9501307-0-5.
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
* Kurowski, Franz. "Knights of the Wehrmacht Knight's Cross Holders of the Fallschirmjäger". Schiffer Military. ISBN 0-88740-749-8.
* Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit. "Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II". Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, 2001. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.

External links

* [http://www.ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.de/Luftwaffe/M/Meindl-Eugen.htm Eugen Meindl @ Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939-45]
* [http://www.camp198.fsnet.co.uk/General%20der%20Fallschirmtruppe%20Eugen%20Meindl.htm Eugen Meindl @ ISLAND FARM SPECIAL CAMP: XI POWS HELD AT BRIDGEND]