Alexander Gläser

Alexander Gläser (4 January 1914 – 13 September 2003) was a highly decorated Hauptmann 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. Alexander Gläser is credited with flying 1123 missions during the war.

Awards and decorations

 * Anschluss Medal
 * Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle Bar
 * Aviator badge
 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant "1100"
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (14 September 1939)
 * 1st Class (10 May 1940)
 * Eastern Front Medal
 * Crimea Shield
 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (24 November 1941)
 * German Cross in Gold (18 May 1942)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 19 February 1943 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of 4. / Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
 * 811th Oak Leaves on 28 March 1945 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Schlachtgeschwader 77