Michael Pössinger (18 January 1919 – 23 May 2003) was a German

bobsled Bobsleigh or bobsled is a team winter sport that involves making timed runs down narrow, twisting, banked, iced tracks in a gravity-powered sleigh. International bobsleigh competitions are governed by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Feder ...

der who competed in the early 1950s. He won a complete set of medals in the four-man event at the

FIBT World Championships The IBSF World Championships (known as the FIBT World Championships until 2015), part of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, have taken place on an annual basis since 1930. Starting with 2002, championships of non-Winter Olympi ...

with a gold in 1951, a silver in 1954, and a bronze (tied with Sweden) in

1953 Events January * January 6 – The Asian Socialist Conference opens in Rangoon, Burma. * January 12 – Estonian émigrés found a government-in-exile in Oslo. * January 14 ** Marshal Josip Broz Tito is chosen President of Yug ...

. Pössinger finished sixth in the four-man event at the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, Pössinger served in the mountain troops of the

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

and was a recipient of the

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (german: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), 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. The Knight' ...

. The battalion under his command was responsible for burning to death 21 civilians at Kefalovryso, Greece on 10 July 1943.

World War II

Michael Pössinger joined the mountain troops of the

in October 1937, and took part in the

Invasion of Poland The invasion of Poland (1 September – 6 October 1939) was a joint attack on the Republic of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union which marked the beginning of World War II. The German invasion began on 1 September 1939, one week aft ...

(1939) and the Battle of France (1940). He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 19 July 1940. In 1941, he fought in the Balkans Campaign and

Operation Barbarossa Operation Barbarossa (german: link=no, Unternehmen Barbarossa; ) was the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany and many of its Axis allies, starting on Sunday, 22 June 1941, during the Second World War. The operation, code-named after ...

. In 1941 Pössinger participated in the

FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1941 The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1941 in alpine skiing were the tenth edition of the competition, organized by the International Ski Federation (FIS), and were held on 1–9 February 1941 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The FIS Nordic World ...

at Cortina d'Ampezzo in

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

and won a Silver Medal.In 1946, the results were cancelled by the

FIS FIS or fis may refer to: Science and technology * '' Fis'', an ''E. Coli'' gene * Fis phenomenon, a phenomenon in linguistics * F♯ (musical note) * Flight information service, an air traffic control service * Frame Information Structure, a Se ...

because of the limited number of participants from only German-friendly countries during

.Berger 2004, p. 364. At the end of 1941 he was put in charge of a

Ski A ski is a narrow strip of semi-rigid material worn underfoot to glide over snow. Substantially longer than wide and characteristically employed in pairs, skis are attached to ski boots with ski bindings, with either a free, lockable, or partia ...

company in the 1st Mountain Division. For two months it operated behind Russian lines, attacking supply positions and other strong points, returning to his own lines in February 1942. He continued leading the company in the

Caucasus The Caucasus () or Caucasia (), is a region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, mainly comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia (country), Georgia, and parts of Southern Russia. The Caucasus Mountains, including the Greater Caucasus range ...

until he was severely wounded in the summer of 1942. On 16 February 1943 Pössinger was awarded the

German Cross The War Order of the German Cross (german: Der Kriegsorden Deutsches Kreuz), normally abbreviated to the German Cross or ''Deutsches Kreuz'', was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 28 September 1941. It was awarded in two divisions: in gold for repe ...

in Gold. Promoted to ''

Hauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian, and Swiss armies. While in contemporary German means 'main', it also has and originally had the meaning of 'head', i.e. ' literally ...

'' on 1 October 1943 he was put in command of the ''I. Battalion'' of the 98th ''Gebirgsjäger-Regiment''.Berger 2004, p. 365. I. ''Battalion'' of the 98th Gebirgsjäger-Regiment was responsible for burning to death 21 civilians at Kefalovryso, Greece on 10 July 1943. Historian Hermann Frank Meyer assumes that the actions were personally led by Pössinger. In October 1944, Pössinger was put in charge of the II. Battalion of the ''Grenadier-Regiment 1123''. For his autonomous counter-attack and break through at Allenstein, he was awarded the

. In May 1945 he received the Close Combat Clasp in Gold. He surrendered to the American forces in May 1945.Berger 2004, p. 366. After World War II he initially worked as a business man. On 26 April 1956 he joined the ''

Bundeswehr The ''Bundeswehr'' (, meaning literally: ''Federal Defence'') is the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. The ''Bundeswehr'' is divided into a military part (armed forces or ''Streitkräfte'') and a civil part, the military part con ...

'' with the rank of '' Major''. From October 1961 to October 1965 he was commander of the ''Mountain and Winter Combat 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, ...

. He commanded the VKK 653 (''Verteidigungskreiskommando''—District Defense Command of the German Army) in Murnau until March 1975 and retired from the ''Bundeswehr'' on 31 March 1975.

Awards

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (german: link=no, Eisernes Kreuz, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1871–1918) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). King Frederick William III of Prussia es ...

(1939) ** 2nd Class (24 September 1939)Thomas 1998, p. 163. ** 1st Class (16 June 1940) *

Infantry Assault Badge The Infantry Assault Badge () was a German military decoration awarded to Waffen-SS and ''Wehrmacht Heer'' soldiers during the Second World War. This decoration was instituted on 20 December 1939 by the Commander-in-Chief (''Oberbefehlshaber'') ...

(13 April 1942)Thomas & Wegmann 1994, p. 169. *

Wound Badge The Wound Badge (german: Verwundetenabzeichen) was a German military decoration first promulgated by Wilhelm II, German Emperor on 3 March 1918, which was first awarded to soldiers of the German Army who were wounded during World War I. Between ...

(1939) ** in Black (6 June 1942) ** in Silver (15 October 1942)Thomas & Wegmann 1994, p. 170. ** in GoldBerger 2004, p. 362. *

Eastern Front Medal The Eastern Medal (german: Ostmedaille), officially the Winter Battle in the East 1941–42 Medal (german: Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42, links=no), was a military award of the ''Wehrmacht'' which was created by ordinance of Adolf Hi ...

(1 October 1942) * Five Tank Destruction Badges for Individual Combatants *

in Gold on 16 February 1943 as '' Oberleutnant'' in the ''6./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98''Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 357. *

Close Combat Clasp The Close Combat Clasp (german: Nahkampfspange) was a World War II German military award instituted on 25 November 1942 for participation in hand-to-hand fighting at close quarters. Intended primarily for infantry, other Wehrmacht, Waffen-SS, gro ...

** in Bronze on 21 June 1943) ** in Gold on 1 May 1945 for 50 days in close combat * Croatian

Military Order of the Iron Trefoil The Military Order of the Iron Trefoil, also known as the Croatian Cross, was the highest military decoration of the Independent State of Croatia. It was awarded for "acts of war, achieved by personal incentive, for efforts and good leadership in ...

3rd Class with Oak Leaves (18 May 1944) *

** Knight's Cross on 19 July 1940 as ''

Leutnant () is the lowest Junior officer rank in the armed forces the German-speaking of Germany (Bundeswehr), Austrian Armed Forces, and military of Switzerland. History The German noun (with the meaning "" (in English "deputy") from Middle High Ge ...

'' of the Reserves and company commander in the ''16./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98''Scherzer 2007 p. 600. ** 759th Oak Leaves on 28 February 1945 as '' Major'' and commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 1123 * Romanian Order of the Crown * Cross of Merit on ribbon (1997)

Notes

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * * Meyer, Hermann Frank (2008). ''Blutiges Edelweiß. Die 1. Gebirgs-Division im Zweiten Weltkrieg'' (in German). Berlin, Germany: Christoph Links Verlag. . * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Possinger, Michael 1919 births 2003 deaths People from Garmisch-Partenkirchen (district) Sportspeople from Upper Bavaria Bobsledders at the 1956 Winter Olympics German male bobsledders Gebirgsjäger of World War II German Army personnel Recipients of the Gold German Cross Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Recipients of the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Christian Democratic Union of Germany politicians German Army officers of World War II Olympic bobsledders of the United Team of Germany Military personnel from Bavaria