Paul Conrath

General Paul Conrath (22 November 1896 – 15 January 1979) was a German General der Fallschirmtruppe during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

Following the battle at Monte Cassino in Italy, he was honored for authorizing action, prior to the battle, that saved priceless Christian treasures. At the request of two of his division's officers, he authorized use of trucks, fuel, and drivers to remove books and other property from the Abbey to the Vatican and other safe locations in Rome. After a mass in the basilica, Abbot Gregorio Diamare formally presented General Conrath with signed parchment scrolls enscribed in Latin. The scrolls cited tribuno militum Julio Schlegel and Maximiliano Becker medecinae doctori "for rescuing the monks and treasures of the Abbey of Monte Cassino." (See citations at entry for battle of Monte Cassino.)

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1914) 2nd and 1st Class
 * Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
 * Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
 * Wehrmacht Long Service Award, 4th class
 * Cuffband "Afrika"
 * German Cross in Gold (18 May 1944)
 * Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (18 August 1943)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 4 September 1941 as Oberst and commander of Flak-Regiment (motorized) "General Göring"
 * 276th Oak Leaves on 21 August 1943 as Generalmajor and commander of Fallschirm-Panzer-Division "Hermann Göring"