Paul Conrath

Paul Conrath ( born November 21, 1896 in Rudow in Berlin, † January 15, 1979 in Hamburg ) was a German officer, most recently General of the paratroops in World War II.

Life

Conrath occurred on 10 August 1914 as a volunteer and officer candidates in the 4th Guards Field Artillery Regiment and was assigned to the Reserve Field Artillery Regiment No. 44 after his basic training in October 1914. With the unit, he was transferred to the Western Front in France. In October 1916, he was employed as a battery officer, promoted on March 1, 1917 Lieutenant and appointed departmental adjutant in the 4th Baden Field Artillery Regiment No. 66 a short time later. He remained in this position at end of the war.

On January 20, 1919, he resigned from the army and joined a year later on January 11, 1920 to the police. He subsequently rose to up to major and has been fully incorporated into the Air Force on 1 April 1935. First Conrath worked until September 30, 1936 as adjutant to the commander in chief of the Luftwaffe Hermann Göring. From October 1, 1936 to September 30, 1937, he was battery commander in the Flak Regiment 12 in Berlin- Lankwitz. He then took over as commander of the III. light flak Air Force Regiment General Göring.

From 1 January 1938, he served as chief aide to the commander in chief of the Air Force and was promoted on December 1, 1938 Lieutenant Colonel. His official position he retained even after the beginning of World War II.

On March 1, 1940 Conrath was promoted to colonel on 1 June 1940, he was appointed commander of the Air Force Regiment General Göring. With this he took part in the fighting in France and after the end of the Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union from June 22, 1941 in part. His regiment was extended first to the Air Force Brigadier and from 17 October 1942 Air Force Division in June. Already on 15 June 1942 he had been promoted to Major General. The division came to reinforce the Afrika Korps in Tunisia and had to be there in large parts after the Battle of Tunisia found or has been destroyed.

From the remnants of the Division Panzer Division Hermann Göring was formed in May 1943 in Italy. This Conrath was initially against the Allied landings on Sicily in use. On September 1, 1943, he was promoted to lieutenant general. In January 1944, the division was reorganized once again, was named Parachute Panzer Division Hermann Göring and later became instrumental in the battle for Monte Cassino.

On April 15, 1944 Conrath was relieved of his command by Lieutenant General Wilhelm Schmalz and appointed Commanding General of the training and replacement troops of the Parachute Army and the Chief of paratroops. He no longer received a command at the front end of the war. On January 1, 1945 was his promotion to General of paratroops. With the German capitulation on 8 May 1945 Conrath was briefly in U.S. captivity, but was released soon afterwards.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1914 ) II and I. Class
• Clasp to the Iron Cross Second Class and I.
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight's Cross on September 4, 1941
• Oak leaves on August 22, 1943 ( 276th ceremony )