Job Odebrecht

Job Wilhelm Odebrecht (25 February 1892 – 20 November 1982) was a highly decorated General der Flakartillerie in the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He was captured in May 1945 and was released in 1947.

Career
Odebrecht entered the German navy as an officer cadet in 1909 and was commissioned in 1912. After serving on flotilla craft and capital ships, he was assigned to East Africa. He commanded a company of naval troops there when World War I broke out, and was captured by the Belgians in 1916, when German East Africa fell to the Allies. During the inter-war period, he served as a policeman, attaining the rank of major. He joined the German air force in 1935, and was promoted to Lt. Col at the end of that year. His commands included the 1st bn., 11th flak rgt. (1936), 71st flak bn. (1937), 1st bn., 34th flak rgt. (1938), 25th flak rgt. (1938), 8th flak rgt. (1939), 5th Luftwaffe defense command (1940), 6th Luftwaffe Defense Command (1941), 6th flak division (1942), 21st Luftwaffe Field Division (1942), III Luftwaffe Field Corps (1943), II flak corps (1944–45). He was promoted to General der Flakartillerie on December 1, 1942.

Awards and decorations

 * Iron Cross (1914)
 * 2nd Class
 * 1st Class
 * Cross of Honor
 * Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th to 1st Class
 * Anschluss Medal
 * Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle Bar
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (29 May 1940)
 * 1st Class (1 July 1940)
 * Wound Badge (1939)
 * in Black (4 July 1940)
 * Anti-Aircraft Flak Battle Badge (31 October 1941)
 * German Cross in Gold (20 October 1942)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on September 5, 1944 as General der Flakartillerie and commanding general of the II. Flakkorps (motorized)