Paul Laux (11 November 1887 – 2 September 1944) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 16th Army. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany.
Paul Laux | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 November 1887 Weimar |
| Died | 2 September 1944 (aged 56) Riga |
| Allegiance |  German Empire Weimar Republic Nazi Germany |
| Service/ | Army |
| Years of service | 1907–44 |
| Rank | General of the Infantry |
| Commands held | 126th Infantry Division II Army Corps 16th Army |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Laux took command of the 10th Division in Passau. On 18 March some of these troops reached Vienna.[1] In March 1939, when National Socialists and the 85th Infantry Regiment commemorated fallen heroes on the Passau Cathedral Square, Laux praised Adolf Hitler.[2] Next, his men invaded Bohemia. On 13 April Laux commemorated the annexation of Austria in Passau.[3]
As commanding officer of the 126th Infantry Division, Laux took part in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union.[4] On 29 August 1944 Paul Laux crashed during a reconnaissance flight. He died of his injuries on 2 September 1944.
Awards edit
- Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (January 1940) & 1st Class (July 1940)[5]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 14 December 1941 as Generalleutnant and commander of 126. Infanterie-Division[6]
- 237th Oak Leaves on 17 May 1943 as General der Infanterie and commander of II Armeekorps[7]
References edit
Citations edit
- ^ Anna Rosmus Hitlers Nibelungen, Samples Grafenau 2015, pp. 139f
- ^ Anna Rosmus Hitlers Nibelungen, Samples Grafenau 2015, pp. 199f
- ^ Anna Rosmus Hitlers Nibelungen, Samples Grafenau 2015, p. 139
- ^ Anna Rosmus Hitlers Nibelungen, Samples Grafenau 2015, p. 200
- ^ Thomas 1998, p. 16.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 234.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 60.
Bibliography edit
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.
