Johannes-Matthias Hönscheid

Johannes-Matthias Hönscheid (14 July 1922 – 2 March 2001) was a war correspondent and Leutnant of the Reserves with the Fallschirmjäger during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Johannes-Matthias Hönscheid was the only war correspondent (Kriegsberichter) in the Wehrmacht to receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Hönscheidt is credited with the destruction of seven enemy tanks with antitank mines during the fighting retreat to the area of Frosinone and Monte Cassino. He was also responsible for capturing a total of 827 prisoner of war as shock troops leader. Hönscheid transferred to the Heer on 14 September 1944. He was nominated and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his actions in Italy in final days of the war. His last assignment at the end of the war was with the Regierung Dönitz (Dönitz Government) as a correspondent and spokesman in Plön and Flensburg.

Awards and decorations

 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
 * Parachutist Badge
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class
 * 1st Class
 * Wound Badge (1939)
 * in Black
 * in Silver
 * Close Combat Clasp
 * in Bronze
 * in Silver
 * War Merit Cross with Swords
 * 2nd Class
 * 1st Class
 * 7 Tank Destruction Badges for Individual Combatants
 * 2 Silver
 * 1 Gold
 * Ground Assault Badge of the Luftwaffe
 * German Cross in Gold (16 March 1945)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 12 March 1945 as Oberfeldwebel and Kriegsberichterstatter der Fallschirmtruppe.
 * Ärmelband Afrika
 * Ärmelband Kriegsberichter der Luftwaffe

Works

 * Hönscheid, Johannes-Matthias (1992). Der Kriegsberichter (in German). Internationaler Kulturdienst..