Adolf Strauss

Adolf Strauss
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1985-037-34A, Russland, Generaloberst Adolf Strauß.jpg Adolf Strauss (right)
Born	(1879-09-06)6 September 1879 Schermcke
Died	Lübeck
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	German Army
Years of service	1898–1945
Rank	Generaloberst
Commands held	II. Armeekorps
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Adolf Strauss (6 September 1879 – 20 March 1973) was a German Generaloberst ("Colonel General"). He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. This award was given to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Early life

Strauss was born in Schermcke, Saxony-Anhalt.

Career

On 15 March 1898, Strauss joined the Imperial German Army. After serving various roles throughout World War I, Strauss was retained in the Reichswehr. On 1 December 1934 he was promoted to Generalmajor.

As Commanding General of the Second Army Corps, Strauss participated in the German Invasion of Poland. On 30 May 1940, he was appointed Oberbefehlshaber (supreme commander) of the 9th Army in France.

Strauss then moved East for Operation Barbarossa with Army Group Centre. In January 1942 he was replaced in command of the 9th Army by Walter Model following the initial breakthrough of the Soviet forces during commencement of the Rzhev Battles.

For health reasons, he stepped down from command on 16 January 1943. After his recovery, he was appointed as Commandant of the Fortified Eastern area.

Later life

After the war he was held in British captivity until being released in May 1949. He died on 20 March 1973 in Lübeck.

Decorations

• Iron Cross (1914) 1st and 2nd class
• Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Knight's Cross with Swords
• Hanseatic Cross, Bremen and Lübeck
• Military Cross of Merit, Principality of Lippe
• Military Merit Cross (Austria), 3rd class with War Decoration
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Wehrmacht Long Service Award, 4th with 1st class
• Clasp for Iron Cross, 1st and 2nd class
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 October 1939 as General der Infanterie and commanding general of the II. Armeekorps
• Mentioned four times in the Wehrmachtbericht on 6 August 1941 (extra), 7 August 1941, 18 October 1941 (extra) and 19 October 1941
• Wound Badge (1918) in Black

Wehrmachtbericht references

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
Thursday, 7 August 1941	Am Verlauf dieser gewaltigen Schlacht waren die Armeen des Generalfeldmarschalls von Kluge und der Generalobersten Strauß und Freiherr von Weichs, die Panzergruppen der Generalobersten Guderian und Hoth sowie die Luftwaffenverbände der Generale der Flieger Loerzer und Freiherr von Richthofen ruhmreich beteiligt.	During the course of this great battle, the armies of Field Marshal von Kluge and the Colonel General Strauß and Freiherr von Weichs, the Panzer groups of Colonel-General Guderian and Hoth, and the Luftwaffe detachments of the generals of the Air Loerzer and Freiherr von Richthofen were involved gloriously.
Saturday, 18 October 1941	(Sondermeldung) An der Durchführung dieser Operationen waren die Armeen des Generalfeldmarschalls von Kluge, der Generalobersten Freiherr von Weichs und Strauß sowie Panzerarmeen der Generalobersten Guderian, Hoth, Hoeppner und des Generals der Panzertruppen Reinhardt beteiligt.	(Special Bulletin) In the execution of these operations were involved, the armies of Field Marshal von Kluge, the Colonel-Generals Freiherr von Weichs and Strauss as well as tank armies of Colonel-General Guderian, Hoth, Hoeppner and General of Panzer Troops Reinhardt.
Sunday, 19 October 1941	An der Durchführung dieser Operationen waren die Armeen des Generalfeldmarschalls von Kluge, der Generalobersten Freiherr von Weichs und Strauß sowie Panzerarmeen der Generalobersten Guderian, Hoth, Hoeppner und des Generals der Panzertruppen Reinhardt beteiligt.	In the execution of these operations were involved, the armies of Field Marshal von Kluge, the Colonel-Generals Freiherr von Weichs and Strauss as well as tank armies of Colonel-General Guderian, Hoth, Hoeppner and General of Panzer Troops Reinhardt.

References

Bibliography

• Mitcham, SW (2010) : Men of Barbarossa ISBN 978-1-935149-15-6

External links

• Adolf Strauss, biography and pictures at historic.de

Military offices
Preceded by none	Commander of 22. Infanterie-Division 15 October 1935 – 10 November 1938	Succeeded by Generalleutnant Hans Graf von Sponeck
Preceded by none	Commander of II. Armeekorps September 1939 – 30 April 1940	Succeeded by General der Infanterie Carl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel
Preceded by Johannes Blaskowitz	Commander of 9. Armee 30 May 1940 – 14 January 1942	Succeeded by Walter Model