Alois Windisch

Alois Windisch
Born 3 February 1892
Bad Fischau
Died 28 December 1958(1958-12-28) (aged 66)
Wiener Neustadt
Allegiance Austria-Hungary Austria–Hungary (to 1918)
Austria First Austrian Republic (to 1938)
 Nazi Germany
Service/branch Heer
Years of service 1913–38 (Austria)
1938–45 (Germany)
Rank Generalmajor
Commands held 264. Infanterie-Division
Battles/wars

World War I

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Alois Windisch (3 February 1892 – 28 December 1958) was a highly decorated Generalmajor 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.

Career

A young officer during the Great War, he was, among other decorations, awarded the highest Austro-Hungarian military award, the Knight's Cross of the Order of Maria Theresa (11 December 1925). A First Lieutenant in 1918, he remained in the Army of the newly founded Austrian Republic. Promoted to Captain in 1921 (1 January 1921), he was selected for General Staff Training and graduated on top of his class. A full Colonel in the Austrian General Staff since 1936 (promotion 24 June 1936) and senior tactics teacher, Windisch was well known for his refusal of the Nazi movement. After the Nazi take over in Austria (13 March 1938), he was considered "politically unreliable", expelled from the General Staff Corps, put on administrative leave and earmarked for forced retirement. The beginning of World War II (1 September 1939) and the resulting need for experienced military leaders led to his assignment as Commanding Officer of a Mountain Infantry Regiment (Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 139). After the fall of Poland, he and his Regiment took part in Operation Weserübung, the invasion of Norway. His bravery and leadership in the Battles of Narvik under General Eduard Dietl resulted in Windisch being awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Alois Windisch was captured by Soviet troops in 1945 and was extradited to Yugoslavia. He was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, but was released in 1953.

Awards and decorations

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 363.

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 [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. 
  • 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. 
Military offices
Preceded by
Generalmajor Paul Hermann		 Commander of 264. Infanterie-Division
9 October 1944 - March 1945 		Succeeded by
Unknown
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