User:Reguyla\Otto Zierach

[Link label/Photo of Otto Zierach]

Otto Zierach (* January 26th, 1907 in Berlin - † August 12th, 1976 in Nachrodt-Veserde) was a German Major in the Fallschirmjäger during World War II.

Career
Zierach began his military career in the "General Göring"which 1938 evolved into the first paratroopers Association of the Wehrmacht.

Second World War
in 1939, he came to the Trial Division Friedrichshafen, the spectacular assault on the fortress of Eben-Emael graduated as Storm Department "Chef", a feat of military history. IA Hauptmann Walter Koch was allocated the biggest storm group "Concrete" of Lieutenant Gerhard Schacht and was representative of the rod with the men of the Department directly at the enemy before the hotly contested bridge at Vroenhoven. On July 1, 1940, he was promoted to Captain and appointed the Commander of the parachute school 1 (now in Wittstock to the Dosse). When was the company "Mercury", the experienced paratroopers to his master unit was commanded back, now called Airdrop-Sturm-Regiment 1. As a officer such as V. he was now in the bar again and took part in the bloody and deadly conquest of Crete. Zierach was among the first wave with target Maleme, he had to see how both Generalmajor Meindl and his old comrade and friend of the regiment "General Göring" were wounded Major cooking. The staff of the airdrop Sturm Regiment 1 on the staff of the Air force Brigade "Maggie"was on 26 February 1942. On September 1, 1942, he was promoted to the rank of major, and on September 28, 1942, he became Commander of the III battalion of the Luftwaffe field Division 1 under Colonel Gustav Wilke. The Division was completed in the same month and in November 1942 at the Eastern front moved, subordinated to the Army Group North/18th army. The Luftwaffe field Division was taken over by the army as the 1st field Division (L) in September 1943, and stay with the army group North. In early 1944 he came to the II parachute Corps (under Generalleutnant Eugen Meindl) of the 1st parachute army. The Corps was initially as a reserve and training division of the upper befehlshabers West in Paris. Oversaw the Corps to the army high command 7 of Army Group B in the Normandy in May 1944 and completed in August 1944 destroyed at the invasion front in the Falaise Pocket, but 1945 newly positioned for the Ardennes offensive in November 1944 and the final battle. Major Zierach was appointed parachute Corps on 15 February 1945 the IB of II, where he was presumably taken prisoner in April/May 1945 in Reich defense of EMS and Weser.

Awards

 * Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse


 * Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse


 * Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung, 4. Klasse


 * Fallschirmschützenabzeichen der Luftwaffe


 * Ärmelband „Kreta“


 * Erdkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe


 * Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on May 15th, 1940 as Oberleutnant and Lastenseglerpilot in the Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Abteilung "Koch"