__FORCETOC__ Franz Pöschl (2 November 1917 in

Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...

– 25 January 2011 in

Hamburg Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...

) served as an

Oberstleutnant () (English: Lieutenant Colonel) is a senior field officer rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to lieutenant colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, ...

in the

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the German Army (1935–1945), ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmac ...

during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and later as a

Generalleutnant () is the German-language variant of lieutenant general, used in some German speaking countries. Austria Generalleutnant is the second highest general officer rank in the Austrian Armed Forces (''Bundesheer''), roughly equivalent to the NATO ...

in the

Bundeswehr The (, ''Federal Defence'') are the armed forces of the Germany, Federal Republic of Germany. The is divided into a military part (armed forces or ''Streitkräfte'') and a civil part, the military part consists of the four armed forces: Germ ...

during the

Cold War The Cold War was a period of global Geopolitics, geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc, which lasted from 1947 unt ...

. During the Second World War, he was awarded the

Knights Cross of the Iron Cross The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (), or simply the Knight's Cross (), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. While it was lower in precedence than the Grand Cr ...

on 23 February 1944 for extraordinary heroism during the

Battle of Monte Cassino The Battle of Monte Cassino, also known as the Battle for Rome, was a series of four military assaults by the Allies of World War II, Allies against Nazi Germany, German forces in Kingdom of Italy, Italy during the Italian Campaign (World War ...

. His final Wehrmacht duty assignment was as the Regimental Commander of Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 143. In 1960, Pöschl joined the newly established Bundeswehr, where he rose to the rank of Generalleutnant and served as the Commanding General of the III. Korps, which comprised a third of the entire

German Army The German Army (, 'army') is the land component of the armed forces of Federal Republic of Germany, Germany. The present-day German Army was founded in 1955 as part of the newly formed West German together with the German Navy, ''Marine'' (G ...

, and contributed significantly to West Germany's defense during the Cold War. After his passing in 2011, Generalleutnant Franz Pöschl was honored as a ''Kämpfer für Demokratie'' ("Fighter for Democracy") and as a ''Prägender Offizier der Bundeswehr'' ("Formative Officer of the Bundeswehr"). On 12 July 2024
''The Tradition of the Bundeswehr''
recognized him as one of its most distinguished generals, celebrating him as "an example of military excellence and soldierly virtues." This distinction reflects his remarkable career, including his service as a highly decorated front-line officer during the Second World War, his influential role on the Bundestag Personnel Evaluation Committee, his successful leadership of the III. Korps, the universal respect he garnered from his soldiers for his compassionate leadership style, and his decisive actions to eliminate ''Schleifermethoden'' ("harsh training methods") while in command of the 1.Luftlandedivision.

Wehrmacht Military Service (1936-1945)

Enlistment & Annexation of Austria (1936-1938)

Franz Pöschl enlisted in the Heer in 1936 as an prospective officer candidate in the 9.Kompanie/Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100, 1.Gebirgs-Division, after completing his required service in the Reich Labor Service. He took part in the “

Anschluss The (, or , ), also known as the (, ), was the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938. The idea of an (a united Austria and Germany that would form a "German Question, Greater Germany") arose after t ...

” (Annexation) of Austria from 12 March 1938 to 20 March 1938. On 31 August 1938, Pöschl was promoted to Leutnant and was assigned as a Zugführer for the 3.Kompanie/Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100.

Invasion of Poland (1939)

In the opening days of the

, Leutnant Pöschl was severely wounded in action on 14 September 1939 during the Battle of Lemberg as part of the

invasion of Poland The invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign, Polish Campaign, and Polish Defensive War of 1939 (1 September – 6 October 1939), was a joint attack on the Second Polish Republic, Republic of Poland by Nazi Germany, the Slovak R ...

. His courage in the face of intense urban combat during the Battle of Lemberg earned him the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 25 September 1939. On 1 April 1940, he was awarded the Wound Badge in Black for the injuries that he suffered within the first two weeks of the war. The personal trauma of his serious injuries made him realize for the first time “what war is” as soon as it had begun. It was a formative experience that had a lasting influence on the rest of his life. He required eight months of medical treatment for his serious injuries and was promoted to Oberleutnant on 19 July 1940.

Invasion of Greece & The Battle of Crete (1941)

On 2 January 1941, Oberleutnant Pöschl became the Commander of the 3.Kompanie/Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100, 5.Gebirgs-Division. In April 1941, Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100 participated in the Invasion of Greece and the follow-on the air assault on

Crete Crete ( ; , Modern Greek, Modern: , Ancient Greek, Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the List of islands by area, 88th largest island in the world and the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, fifth la ...

. For his combat heroism during the

Battle of Crete The Battle of Crete (, ), codenamed Operation Mercury (), was a major Axis Powers, Axis Airborne forces, airborne and amphibious assault, amphibious operation during World War II to capture the island of Crete. It began on the morning of 20 May ...

, Oberleutnant Pöschl was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class on 24 June 1941.

The German-Soviet War (1942-1943)

After the successful invasion and occupation of Crete, Oberleutnant Pöschl's unit was deployed to the Eastern Front, where they fought with

Army Group North Army Group North () was the name of three separate army groups of the Wehrmacht during World War II. Its rear area operations were organized by the Army Group North Rear Area. The first Army Group North was deployed during the invasion of Pol ...

in the Wolchow Swamps during the

Battle of Leningrad The siege of Leningrad was a Siege, military blockade undertaken by the Axis powers against the city of Leningrad (present-day Saint Petersburg) in the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front (World War II), Eastern Front of World War II from 1941 t ...

in the

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

. Oberleutnant Pöschl was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 30 July 1942 for extraordinary combat bravery during an enemy tank incursion. Amid heavy fire, he destroyed an enemy tank using a satchel charge. His successful defense and counterattack broke the encirclement of I.Bataillon/Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100. Later that month, on 19 August 1942, the Soviet Union launched the

Sinyavino Offensive The Sinyavino offensives were a series of Soviet offensives in 1941–1943 during World War II around the Sinyavino Heights, east of Leningrad, to lift the Siege of Leningrad. The area was only fully liberated during the Leningrad–Novgorod offe ...

, a large-scale operation aimed at breaking the Siege of Leningrad. During the ensuing battles, elements of the Soviet 8th Army clashed with the 5.Gebirgs-Division, where Oberleutnant Pöschl played a role in the defense. On 23 August 1942, amidst intense fighting, Oberleutnant Pöschl was severely wounded and required hospitalization for five months. A few months after his injury, on 28 October 1942, Oberleutnant Pöschl was awarded the Military Order for Bravery 4th Class from the

Kingdom of Bulgaria The Tsardom of Bulgaria (), also known as the Third Bulgarian Tsardom (), usually known in English as the Kingdom of Bulgaria, or simply Bulgaria, was a constitutional monarchy in Southeastern Europe, which was established on , when the Bulgaria ...

in recognition of his valiant defense. After recovering from his wounds, Oberleutnant Pöschl was assigned as the Regimental Adjutant for Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100. On April 20, 1943, he was promoted to Hauptmann and awarded the Wound Badge in Silver. On 1 October 1943, Hauptmann Pöschl became the Battalion Commander of I.Bataillon/Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100.

The Battle of Monte Cassino (1944)

In November 1943, the 5.Gebirgs-Division was withdrawn from the Soviet Union and redeployed to

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

to defend

Monte Cassino The Abbey of Monte Cassino (today usually spelled Montecassino) is a Catholic Church, Catholic, Benedictines, Benedictine monastery on a rocky hill about southeast of Rome, in the Valle Latina, Latin Valley. Located on the site of the ancient ...

against the Western Allied forces as part of the Wehrmacht's defense strategy in Italy. On 13 January 1944, the French Expeditionary Corps launched an assault on Hauptmann Pöschl's entrenched positions along the

Gustav Line The Winter Line was a series of German and Italian military fortifications in Italy, constructed during World War II by Organisation Todt and commanded by Albert Kesselring. The series of three lines was designed to defend a western section of ...

in the

Acquafondata Acquafondata (Neapolitan language, Campanian: , ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the province of Frosinone, in the Italy, Italian region of Lazio, located in the Monti della Meta area, about southeast of Rome and about east of Frosinone. His ...

area, close to Monte Cassino. The Algerian 3rd Infantry Division was tasked with seizing the summits of Monna Casale and Monna Acquafonda and advancing toward S.Elia. At a critical moment, Hauptmann Pöschl personally led multiple successful counterattacks,

machine pistol A machine pistol is a handgun that is capable of automatic firearm, fully automatic fire, including shoulder stock, stockless handgun-style submachine guns. The Austrians introduced the world's first machine pistol, the Steyr M1912 pistol#Masch ...

in hand, preventing the 5.Gebirgs-Division from being outflanked and saving his battalion from destruction. Despite being seriously wounded by shrapnel during the intense combat—which included brutal hand-to-hand fighting—Hauptmann Pöschl continued to lead his men. Tragically, his Battalion Adjutant and several members of his personal security detail were killed in action, while one of his Company Commanders was critically wounded. For his injuries, Hauptmann Pöschl was awarded the Wound Badge in Gold on 28 January 1944. On 24 January 1944, at 10 p.m., the Algerian 3rd Infantry Division launched another attack against the 5.Gebirgs-Division, this time north of Monte Cassino. The 2nd Battalion of the 4th Tunisian Infantry Regiment (''Tirailleurs'') attempted to seize Monte Cifalco but was repelled by the determined resistance of I.Bataillon/Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100 under Hauptmann Pöschl’s courageous and energetic leadership. This defense allowed German artillery observers stationed on Monte Cifalco to direct precise artillery fire against the remaining battalions of Tunisian forces, preventing them from capturing Colle Belvedere in the neighboring sector. Monte Cifalco remained firmly in German hands until the conclusion of the

. For his exceptional leadership and valor, Hauptmann Pöschl, Commander of I.Bataillon/Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100, 5.Gebirgs-Division, was awarded the

on 23 February 1944. On 16 February 1944, Hauptmann Pöschl became the Regimental Commander of Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100 and was promoted to Major on 20 April 1944. Major Pöschl was transferred to the Führer-Reserve OKH from 5 May 1944 to 30 July 1944 to recover from the wounds he had sustained during the Battle of Monte Cassino. Afterward, he attended General Staff Training with the 15.Panzergrenadier-Division from 31 July 1944 to 6 August 1944. Upon successfully completing his training, Major Pöschl was assigned as an officer instructor at the

Gebirgsjäger ''Gebirgsjäger'' () is a German language, German military term for light infantry trained in mountain warfare. Currently used in the militaries of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the term includes the word ''Jäger (military), jäger'', anot ...

School in

Mittenwald Mittenwald () is a German municipality in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Bavaria. Geography Mittenwald is located approximately 16 kilometres to the south-east of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It is situated in the Valley of the river Isar, ...

, where he served from 7 August 1944 until 10 September 1944.

The Lapland War (1944-1945)

On 11 September 1944, Major Pöschl took command of Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 143, 6.Gebirgs-Division, 20.Gebirgs-Armee in Finland at the start of the

Lapland War During World War II, the Lapland War (; ; ) saw fighting between Finland and Nazi Germany – effectively from September to November 1944 – in Finland's northernmost region, Lapland. Though the Finns and the Germans had been fighting together ...

between the Greater German Reich and the

Republic of Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...

. The 6.Gebirgs-Division began its evacuation from Finland to

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...

in October 1944. On 13 October 1944, Major Pöschl bravely defended Liinakamari against a massive Soviet assault on the strategically critical Arctic port. He was awarded the Honor Roll Clasp of the German Army on 15 February 1945. Major Pöschl was promoted to his final wartime rank of Oberstleutnant on 15 January 1945. Oberstleutnant Pöschl and Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 143 surrendered to British forces north of

Narvik () is the third-largest List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Nordland Counties of Norway, county, Norway, by population. The administrative centre of the municipality is the Narvik (town), town of Narvik. Some of the notable villag ...

, Norway, in May 1945 at the time of the German Capitulation.

Release from Captivity & Civil Service (1946-1959)

After the Second World War and his release from French captivity as a prisoner of war in February 1946, Pöschl worked as a laborer in a marble factory in

Kiefersfelden Kiefersfelden is a municipality with about 7000 inhabitants located in the district of Rosenheim in Bavaria, Germany, on the border with Tyrol, Austria. Geography Geographical location Kiefersfelden is located in the foothills of the Alps, in t ...

from April 1946 to March 1947. Between May 1947 and May 1948, he completed an agricultural apprenticeship at the Benedictine Scheyern Abbey in Pfaffenhofen. He then pursued advanced studies to become a teacher at the

Archdiocese of Munich and Freising The Archdiocese of Munich and Freising (, ) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Bavaria, Germany.Oberaudorf Oberaudorf () is a municipality in the district of Rosenheim (district), Rosenheim in Bavaria, Germany. It lies on the river Inn (river), Inn. Oberaudorf is the birthplace of Maria Ratzinger (née Peintner), the mother of German Pope Benedict XVI ...

from May 1948 to December 1951. In January 1952, he became a Civic Education Officer for the

Bavarian State Police The Bavarian Police () is the state police force of the German state of Bavaria under the umbrella of the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior. It has approximately 33,500 armed officers and roughly 8,500 other civilian employees. Organization Th ...

Bereitschaftspolizei The ''Bereitschaftspolizei'' (literally 'Readiness Police'/On-Call Police (Reserve); effectively riot police), abbreviated BePo, are the support and rapid reaction units of Germany's police forces. They are composed of detachments from the Fe ...

and taught at the Police Academy in Munich, focusing on instilling democratic values to ensure the effective functioning of law enforcement within a democratic society. From April 1953 to February 1955, he was assigned as an instructor for civic education at the Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior. In 1955, Pöschl became an active member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and participated in th
Grünwalder Arbeitskreis
a working group focused on the non-partisan institutional safeguarding of democratic political education in Bavaria. As a result of this group's work, th
''Law on the Establishment of an Academy for Political Education''
was passed in 1957, leading to the creation of th
Academy for Political Education
in

Tutzing Tutzing is a Municipalities of Germany, municipality in the district of Starnberg (district), Starnberg in Bavaria, Germany, on the west bank of the Starnberger See. Just 40 km south-west of Munich and with good views of the Alps, the town wa ...

, the first such institution in Germany established under public law. On 13 July 1955, Pöschl was appointed by Federal President Theodor Heuss of the

Federal Republic of Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen constituent states have a total population of over 84 ...

to the Personnel Evaluation Committee (''Personalgutachterausschuss für die Streitkräfte'') of the

Deutscher Bundestag The Bundestag (, "Federal Diet") is the lower house of the German federal parliament. It is the only constitutional body of the federation directly elected by the German people. The Bundestag was established by Title III of the Basic Law fo ...

. This Personnel Evaluation Committee was responsible for evaluating former Wehrmacht officers, ranked Major and above, for reassignment to the Bundeswehr. The committee was dissolved on 4 September 1967 after the signing of th
Repealing the Personnel Assessment Committee Act (''Gesetz zur Aufhebung des Personalgutachterausschuß-Gesetzes'')
From October 1955 to December 1959, Pöschl served as an Oberregierungsrat (Chief Administrative Officer) and Head of the Defense Department in the

Bavarian State Chancellery Bavarian is the adjective form of the German state of Bavaria, and refers to people of ancestry from Bavaria. Bavarian may also refer to: * Bavarii, a Germanic tribe * Bavarians, a nation and ethnographic group of Germans * Bavarian, Iran, a villag ...

. He also acted as the personal advisor for military affairs to Bavaria's Minister-President, Dr. Wilhelm Hoegner. Hoegner, a fellow Social Democrat, was a well-known opponent of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP) who had returned from exile in

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

under the supervision of the American occupying forces. During this period, Pöschl played a significant role in establishing the newly founded

in Bavaria by overseeing the procurement of land for new barracks and training areas.

Bundeswehr Military Service (1960-1978)

In January 1960, Franz Pöschl accepted a commission as an

in the

of the

, and stepping away from active membership in the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) due to potential conflicts of interest while in military service. Following his training at the Infanterieschule in

Hammelburg Hammelburg is a town in Bavaria, Germany. It sits in the district of Bad Kissingen, in Lower Franconia. It lies on the river Franconian Saale, 25 km west of Schweinfurt. Hammelburg is the oldest winegrowing town (''Weinstadt'') in Francon ...

, he was appointed Deputy Brigade Commander of Gebirgsjägerbrigade 23 in

Bad Reichenhall Bad Reichenhall (; Central Bavarian: ''Reichahoi'') is a spa town, and administrative center of the Berchtesgadener Land district in Upper Bavaria, Germany. It is located near Salzburg in a basin encircled by the Chiemgau Alps (including Mount Stau ...

on 1 April 1960. A year later, on 1 July 1961, Pöschl took command of the brigade and was subsequently promoted to

Oberst ''Oberst'' () is a senior field officer rank in several German language, German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the Army, ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, a ...

on 27 March 1962. On 26 March 1965, Pöschl advanced to Brigadegeneral, taking up the role of Deputy Division Commander of the 1.Luftlandedivision in

Bruchsal Bruchsal (; South Franconian: ''Brusl'') is a city at the western edge of the Kraichgau, approximately 20 km northeast of Karlsruhe in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on Bertha Benz Memorial Route. Bruchsal is the lar ...

on 1 April 1965. By 1 January 1967, he had ascended to Division Commander and earned promotion to

Generalmajor is the Germanic languages, Germanic variant of major general, used in a number of Central Europe, Central and Northern European countries. Austria Belgium Denmark is the second lowest general officer rank in the Royal Danish Army and R ...

on 16 June 1967. During his tenure with the 1. Luftlandedivision, Pöschl decisively eradicated the lingering ''Schleifermethoden'' ("harsh training methods"), a practice carried over from the Wehrmacht era. Pöschl was a steadfast advocate of the Bundeswehr’s foundational leadership philosophy, '' Innere Führung'' ("internal leadership"). This framework emphasized principles such as '' Führen mit Auftrag'' ("leading with order") and '' Staatsbürger in Uniform'' ("citizens in uniform"). He championed a humanist approach to military leadership, integrating moral responsibility, individual dignity, and democratic values. Pöschl believed that soldiers should transcend blind obedience to orders by fully understanding the ethical dimensions of their actions while serving as informed and active citizens. His vision harmonized discipline with autonomy, fostering trust, initiative, and adherence to constitutional principles and the rule of law. For Pöschl, this approach was vital to preserving both the moral integrity and operational effectiveness of a modern military in a democratic society. On 1 October 1970, Pöschl was named Deputy Commanding General of the II. Korps in

Ulm Ulm () is the sixth-largest city of the southwestern German state of Baden-Württemberg, and with around 129,000 inhabitants, it is Germany's 60th-largest city. Ulm is located on the eastern edges of the Swabian Jura mountain range, on the up ...

. In 1971, during NATO's "Winter Exercise-1971" (WINTEX-71), Pöschl gained international attention as the only general to openly criticize NATO's newly adopted nuclear deployment strategy. He famously described it as a ''"wahnwitzige und stupide Form militärischer Führung"'' (''"insane and stupid form of military leadership"''). The strategy proposed the deployment of U.S. nuclear weapons on German territory as a last resort against a potential Soviet invasion. Pöschl condemned this plan as illogical and reckless, arguing that defending Germany by reducing it to a nuclear wasteland was both futile and self-destructive. On 1 October 1972, Pöschl was promoted to

and became the Commanding General of the III. Korps in

Koblenz Koblenz ( , , ; Moselle Franconian language, Moselle Franconian: ''Kowelenz'') is a German city on the banks of the Rhine (Middle Rhine) and the Moselle, a multinational tributary. Koblenz was established as a Roman Empire, Roman military p ...

. This unit represented a third of the entire

, placing Pöschl in a pivotal leadership position during the

. From 1974 onward, Franz Pöschl served as a trusted advisor to Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, offering critical guidance on defense policy and NATO strategy. His expertise and principled stance on military leadership made him an indispensable figure in shaping Germany’s role within the alliance during Schmidt’s tenure. Throughout his career, Pöschl played a pivotal role in strengthening NATO's strategic military partnerships, particularly with the

United States of America The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguo ...

and the

Republic of France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the North Atlantic, the French West Indies, an ...

, to deter

Soviet The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

aggression during the Cold War. His exceptional efforts earned him significant international recognition. On 3 March 1978, he was awarded the Legion of Merit (Degree of Officer) by General George S. Blanchard, Commanding General of

United States Army Europe United States Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) is an Army Service Component Command (ASCC) /Theater Army responsible for directing United States Army operations throughout the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICO ...

, on behalf of the United States of America. The following year, on 11 April 1979, he received the National Order of Merit (Commandeur) from the Republic France. These prestigious honors—among the highest awarded by the United States and France—underscored Pöschl’s extraordinary contributions to international military cooperation and his role as a key architect of NATO’s Cold War strategy. Beyond NATO, Pöschl demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering mutual understanding between former adversaries. In a historic gesture of reconciliation, he became the first Bundeswehr general to invite a Russian general to observe a military exercise, exemplifying his dedication to transparency and dialogue during the Cold War. Pöschl’s service to the

was equally celebrated. He was awarded the Grand Cross of Merit (Commander's Cross) by Federal President Walter Scheel on 21 August 1973, followed by the Star of the Grand Cross of Merit (Knight Commander's Cross) on 8 February 1977. After 27 years of distinguished military service, Franz Pöschl retired on 31 March 1978, holding the rank of

Awards and Decorations

The Greater German Reich

* 23.02.1944

* 30.07.1942 German Cross in Gold * 15.02.1945 Honor Roll Clasp of the German Army * 24.06.1941 Iron Cross 1st Class * 10.10.1939 Iron Cross 2nd Class * 28.01.1944 Wound Badge in Gold * 20.04.1943 Wound Badge in Silver * 01.04.1940 Wound Badge in Black * 16.09.1941 Infantry Assault Badge in Silver * 31.01.1942 Kreta Cuff Title * 20.07.1945 Lappland Shield * 05.10.1942 Winter Battle in the East 1941-42 Medal * 06.12.1940 Wehrmacht-Long Service Award 4th Class * 13.03.1938 The Medal Commemorating 13. March 1938

The Kingdom of Bulgaria

* 28.10.1942 Military Order for Bravery 4th Class

The Federal Republic of Germany

* 08.02.1977 Star of the Grand Cross of Merit (Knight Commander's Cross) * 21.08.1973 Grand Cross of Merit (Commander's Cross) * 12.07.1971 Parachutist Badge in Gold * 28.02.1968 Parachutist Badge in Silver * 16.07.1965 Parachutist Badge in Bronze * 08.12.1966 German Sports Badge in Gold * 00.00.0000 German Rescue Swimming Badge in Gold

The United States of America The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguou ...

* 03.03.1978 Legion of Merit (Degree of Officer) * 26.02.1969 United States Army Parachutist Badge

The French Republic

* 11.04.1979 National Order of Merit (Commandeur) * 14.03.1978 1st Armored Division Medal * 01.03.1968 Military Parachutist Badge

The Italian Republic

* 09.02.1968 Military Parachutist Badge

Dates of Rank

Publications

* Franz Pöschl: ''Man Breeding – A Goal of Inner Leadership'' ; series of publications: Information for the Troops: Supplement; 1966,4

Mentions in Literature

* Clemens Range : ''The Generals and Admirals of the Bundeswehr''. Herford 1990 * Andreas Düfel, Clemens Range: ''The Knight Cross bearers in the Bundeswehr''. 2. edition. 2002 Suderburg 2002
Franz Pöschl
in: ''International Biographical Archive'' 22/1978 from 22. May 1978, in the Munzinger Archive

References

Citations

Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Poschl, Franz 1917 births 2011 deaths Bundeswehr generals Gebirgsjäger of World War II Recipients of the Gold German Cross Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Knights Commander of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Military personnel from Munich Military personnel from the Kingdom of Bavaria Lieutenant generals of the German Army Recipients of the Legion of Merit German military personnel of the Bundeswehr Commanders of the Ordre national du Mérite Recipients of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany