Date of birth:

February 22nd, 1898 (Glonn/Bavaria, Germany)

Date of death:

December 22nd, 1951 (Glonn/Bavaria, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Career:
1917: Flugzeugführer;
1920 - 1933: Polizei;
1935: Luftwaffe;
1936: Major im Generalstab Luftflotte 3
1941: Oberst im Generalstab, Chef des Generalstabes Luftflotte 3;
26th August 1943: Chef des Luftwaffenführungsstab;
29th November 1944: Chef des Generalstabes der Luftwaffe.

Promotions:
1938: Oberstleutnant;
1943: Generalmajor;
May 1944: Generalleutnant;
30th January 1945: General der Flieger.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst im Generalstab

Unit:

Chef des Generalstabes Luftflotte 2

Awarded on:

April 10th, 1942

On the 08.06.1944, during the German Operation Katja, squad leader Gustav Koller and his men were preparing to leave a grove of stunted trees when they noticed 3 T-34s whose crews had dismounted and seemed unprepared for battle. Koller immediately dashed in their direction with his men, who set up their two MGs. In the battle which followed several Soviets were taken prisoner including a forward observer who had been directing blocking fire onto the German attackers.

As Koller observed the enemy entrenchments, he realized that the 3 T-34s had been originally deployed as flank protection. In light of this fact he began to roll up the Soviet line, which proved sufficient to get the bogged down attack of his whole regiment back into motion. It was thereafter able to achieve its objectives with only minor losses.

For this brave and independent action, which greatly helped his Regiment win this particular battle, Koller would be decorated with the Knight’s Cross.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalmajor

Unit:

Chef des Stabes Luftflotte 3

Awarded on:

November 9th, 1943

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher
• Photo: Willi Schumacher Collection
• - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Johnson A.L., Hitler's Military Headquarters, Organization, Structures, Security and Personnel, James Bender Publishing, 1999
  - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001
  - ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.de