Gerhart Schirmer

Gerhart Schrimer (9 January 1913 – 5 September 2004) was a highly decorated Oberstleutnant in the Fallschirmjäger during World War II and an Oberst in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient 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. Gerhart Schrimer was captured by British troops in 1945 and then handed over to Soviet troops. He was held until 1956; later that year he joined the Bundeswehr and served until retirement in 1971.

Awards and decorations

 * Fallschirmschützenabzeichen
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (28 May 1940)
 * 1st Class (28 May 1940)
 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (5 July 1940)
 * German Cross in Gold (25 June 1943)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 14 June 1941 as Hauptmann and leader of II. / Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2
 * 657th Oak Leaves on 11 November 1944 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 16
 * Armelband Crete