Joachim Pötter

Joachim Pötter (1913–1992) was a German World War II bomber pilot. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on April 16, 1942

Biography
Joachim Pötter was born in Metz, Alsace-Lorraine, on January 1, 1913. Pötter joined the German Army straight from school. Pötter began a brilliant career in the Luftwaffe. After various assignments in France and on the Eastern front, Pötter became an ace. Joachim Pötter was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./KG 77 commanded the first Group of the 77th Kampfgeshwader on 25 October 1941. He was eventually awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on April 16, 1942. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross principally was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II. Pötter participated on all of the major fronts in the European Theatre, until the dissolution of his unit in 1944.

When he returned to West Germany after war, Pötter enlisted again in the new German army, the Bundeswehr, in 1955. He became colonel (Oberst) in the West German Air Force (Bundesluftwaffe). After his military retirement, on marsch 1971, Joachim Pötter died on 17 November 1992

Decorations

 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on April 16, 1942.