Johann Pflugbeil

Johann Pflugbeil
Born	24 August 1882 Hütten
Died	Stuttgart
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1904–45
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	221. Infanterie-Division 221. Sicherungs-Division 388. Feldausbildungs-Division Infanterie-Division Kurland
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of the Bzura Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Siege of Leningrad Courland Pocket
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Relations	Kurt Pflugbeil (brother)

Johann Pflugbeil (24 August 1882 – 21 October 1951) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

On June 27, 1941, the 221 Security division held the city of Bialystok (Poland). That day, the 309 Police battalion started a pogrom on the Jewish community: Jews were arrested, beaten, beards were cut, and people were shot. The Jewish community chiefs went to see general Pflugbeil, and asked him to stop that pogrom. They were in his office, on their knees to implore him. A policeman of the 309th Police Battalion urinated on them; the general offered his back, to see elsewhere. After that "meeting", the pogrom became slaughter and massacre : the Jews on the market place were shot in front on a wall, until the night; the synagogue, where 700 Jews were piled up, was set on fire with petrol and grenades. The Jews who tried to escape were shot. On June 28, general Pflugbeil asked Major Weis (309 Police battalion) the cause of the fire. Weis made a false report on the causes.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
  • in Silver
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Eastern Front Medal
• German Cross in Gold (11 April 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 12 August 1944 as Generalleutnant and Kommandant von Milau
• Ärmelband Kurland

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Johann Pflugbeil @ Axis Biographical Research at the Wayback Machine (archived October 28, 2009)

Military offices
Preceded by None	Commander of 221. Infanterie-Division 26 August 1939 - 15 March 1941	Succeeded by Renamed 221. Sicherungs-Division
Preceded by Previously 221. Infanterie-Division	Commander of 221. Sicherungs-Division 15 March 1941 - 5 July 1942	Succeeded by Generalleutnant Hubert Lendle