Helmut Mahlke

Helmut Adalbert Mahlke (27 August 1913 – 26 December 1998) was a highly decorated Oberstleutnant in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II.

Helmut Mahlke
Mahlke aboard Bayern in 1966
Born	27 August 1913 Berlin
Died	26 December 1998(1998-12-26) (aged 85) Heikendorf
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany
Service / branch	Reichsmarine Luftwaffe German Air Force
Years of service	1932–45 1956–70
Rank	Oberstleutnant (Wehrmacht) Generalleutnant (Bundeswehr)
Unit	cruiser Köln StG 1 Luftflotte 6
Commands	III./StG 1
Battles / wars	See battles World War II Annexation of the Sudetenland Annexation of the Memel Territory Norwegian Campaign Battle of Britain Invasion of Yugoslavia Battle of Greece Battle of Crete Eastern Front
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Awards and decorations

• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (16 April 1940)
  • 1st Class (21 June 1940)
• Wound Badge (1939) in Silver
• Eastern Front Medal (15 June 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 16 July 1941 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Sturzkampfgeschwader 1
• German Cross in Gold on 31 March 1944 as Major im Generalstab (in the General Staff) in Luftflotte 6

Works

• Mahlke, Helmut (1993), Stuka Angriff: Sturzflug, Mittler Verlag, ISBN 978-3-8132-0425-4.

References

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Obermaier, Ernst (1976). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe 1939–1945 Band II Stuka- und Schlachtflieger [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe 1939–1945 Volume II Dive Bomber and Attack Aircraft] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-021-3.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.