Ernst Kühl

Dr. jur. Ernst Kühl
Born	18 March 1888 Breslau, Province of Silesia, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire now Wrocław, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland
Died	2 February 1972(1972-02-02) (aged 83) Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1928) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Deutsches Heer (1910–1918) Reichswehr (1918–28) Luftwaffe (1936–45)
Years of service	1910–28 1936–44
Rank	Oberst der Reserves
Unit	Kampfgeschwader 55
Commands held	Kampfgeschwader 55 3. Flieger-Division 5. Flieger-Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of the Netherlands Battle of Belgium Battle of France Battle of Britain Operation Barbarossa Battle of Kiev (1941) Battle of the Caucasus Battle of Stalingrad Battle of Kursk Defense of the Reich
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Dr. jur. Ernst Kühl (24 October 1888 – 2 February 1972) was a highly decorated Oberst der Reserves in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Ernst Kühl was captured by British troops in May 1945 in Norway. He was held until September 1947.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Aviator badge
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (1939)
  • 1st Class (1940)
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (20 December 1940)
• German Cross in Gold on 21 August 1942 as Oberstleutnant in the II./Kampfgeschwader 55
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 17 October 1942 as Oberstleutnant of the Reserve and Geschwaderkommodore of Kampfgeschwader 55
  • 356th Oak Leaves on 18 December 1943 as Oberst of the Reserves and Geschwaderkommodore of Kampfgeschwader 55 "Greif"
• Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht (11 April 1944 and 24 June 1944)
• Great Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

Wehrmachtbericht references

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
11 April 1944	Fliegende Verbände unter Führung von Oberst Kühl und ein Flakregiment unter Oberstleutnant Bulla zeichneten sich besonders aus.	Flying units under the leadership of Oberst Kühl and an anti aircraft regiment under Oberstleutnant Bulla distinguished themselves exceptionally.

References

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
• Kaiser, Jochen (2010). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kampfflieger—Band 1 (in German and English). Bad Zwischenahn, Germany: Luftfahrtverlag-Start. ISBN 978-3-941437-07-4. CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
• Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6. CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2. CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)

External links

• Eichenlaubträger (German)
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht (German)
• World War 2 Awards.com

Military offices
Preceded by Oberstleutnant Benno Kosch	Commander of Kampfgeschwader 55 27 August 1942 – 7 August 1943	Succeeded by Oberstleutnant Wilhelm Antrup
Preceded by Generalleutnant Alexander Holle	Commander of Fliegerführer Nord (Ost) August 1943 – February 1944	Succeeded by Oberst Hermann Busch
Preceded by reformed from V. Fliegerkorps	Commander of 5. Flieger Division (1944–1945) 19 December 1944 – 31 January 1945	Succeeded by Generalmajor Walter Storp