Johann Raithel

Johann Raithel (11 March 1897 – 29 January 1961) was a German general of the Luftwaffe, who commanded the Kampfgeschwader 77 during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.

Johann Raithel
Born	(1897-03-11)11 March 1897 Munich
Died	29 January 1961(1961-01-29) (aged 63) Hamburg
Allegiance	German Empire  Weimar Republic  Nazi Germany
Service / branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1914–45
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands	Jagdgeschwader 132 Kampfgeschwader 77
Battles / wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

On 1 April 1936, Raithel was tasked with the creation of Jagdgeschwader 132 "Richthofen" (JG 132—132nd Fighter Wing) and appointed its first Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander).^{[1][Note 1]}

His daughter Anneliese married Hubert Greim, son of Generalfeldmarschall Robert Ritter von Greim.^[2]

Awards and decorations

• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 17 October 1941 as Oberst and Geschwaderkommodore of Kampfgeschwader 77^[3][4]

Notes

1. On 1 November 1938, JG 132 was renamed to Jagdgeschwader 131 which then became Jagdgeschwader 2 on 1 May 1939.^[1]

References

Citations

1. Prien et al. 2000, p. 107.
2. Braatz 2018, p. 48.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 349.
4. Scherzer 2007, p. 611.

Bibliography

• Braatz, Kurt [in German] (2018). Robert von Greim: Hitlers letzter Feldmarschall [Robert von Greim: Hitlers last Field Marshal] (in German). Vol. II (1st ed.). Moosburg, Germany: NeunundzwanzigSechs Verlag. ISBN 978-3-9818324-1-9.
• Fellgiebel, :de:Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2000). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 1—Vorkriegszeit und Einsatz über Polen—1934 bis 1939 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 1—Pre-War Period and Action over Poland—1934 to 1939] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-54-0.
• 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.

Military offices
Preceded by None	Commander of Jagdgeschwader 132 1 April 1936 – 8 June 1936	Succeeded by Oberst Gerd von Massow
Preceded by Generalmajor Heinz-Hellmuth von Wühlisch	Commander of Kampfgeschwader 77 1 August 1940 – 13 March 1942	Succeeded by Major Arved Crüger