Josef Prentl

Josef "Sepp" Prentl (14 October 1916 – 16 July 1996) was a highly decorated Major 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. Josef Prentl joined the post-war Bundeswehr in 1956, retiring in 1974 as an Oberst. From 1974 to 1978 he served in the Bavarian parliament as a member of the Christian Social Union of Bavaria party.

Awards and decorations

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (19 May 1940)
 * 1st Class (5 June 1940)
 * German Cross in Gold (1 January 1945)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 21 October 1942 as Oberleutnant and chief of the 2./Flak-Regiment 231
 * (851st) Oak Leaves on 28 April 1945 as Major and commander of Flak-Regiment 116