Major Peter Mehrtens - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum

lewis1 · #1 22nd February 2010, 04:32

I am searching for information on my wifes' recently deceased grandfather, Peter Mehrtens, whom I believe was attached to The Legion Condor. Would anyone know of him?

lewis1 · #2 23rd February 2010, 03:25

Major Peter Alexander Mehrtens, awarded Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. Any information please?

Delmenhorst · #3 23rd February 2010, 06:53

He did not have the Ritterkreuz and certainly not with Oakleaves and Swords.

lewis1 · #4 1st March 2010, 11:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delmenhorst

He did not have the Ritterkreuz and certainly not with Oakleaves and Swords.

What makes you so certain.

HARD_Sarge · #5 1st March 2010, 13:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewis1

What makes you so certain.

Hitler instituted a new higher grade of the Knight’s Cross decoration for gallantry and leadership: the silver clasp of the Oak-Leaves with Swords. It would be awarded to only 159 men of the approximately 15 million who served in the German armed forces during World War II.

(from a review of the book, Knight's Cross, Oak-Leaves and Swords Recipients 1941-45)

so, if he was awarded this award, he should show up on the lists

maybe the pic you have of him, looks like the award, when it really is something else ?

(I do know for me, I was in the Marines, and was going on leave for a Wedding, I was able to borrow a set of Dress Blues to wear, as I didn't have a set, some of the old timers in the outfit, wanted to give me there medals to wear to the wedding (blues really look much better with 3 or 4 rows of ribbons instead of just one row) but I told them no, maybe he was wearing someone else stuff for some reason ?)

Leo Etgen · #6 1st March 2010, 17:20

Hi guys

I was able to come across a couple of photographs of him with his awards at http://issuu.com/mweekly/docs/milduraweeklyvol3.52 which is an online magazine. The article dealing with Mehrtens is on pages 12 and 48. The viewer in my opinion is rather user unfriendly so be prepared.

Horrido!

Leo

P Cavanagh · #7 13th November 2010, 08:03

I have some a manuscript that my late husband was doing with Peter some 7 years ago. I could not find anyone to send them onto.

Leo Etgen · #8 23rd February 2010, 04:30

Hello Lewis

I did a quick search for him at www.das-ritterkreuz.de but nothing turned up. Are you sure that he was awarded the Ritterkreuz? I did notice that he had written an autobiography which is available at http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/2080989...ion=NBD7715780 I wish that I could be of more help but that is all that I can add at the moment.

Horrido!

Leo

Doug Stankey · #9 23rd February 2010, 09:13

I have searched our 31,000 officer database of Luftwaffe Officers and have found no one by that or similar name. I also checked the Kracker Luftwaffe aircrew personnel database and again found nothing. As it is possible, but unlikely, that we could have missed a Major, I am obliged to ask if this fellow spent most of the war in another service then switched to the Luftwaffe at a very late stage, thus leaving minimal traces.

A check of the ritterkreuz.de website, which covers all branches of service, reveals no info on this guy. This site is quite comprehensive but not totally complete.

It could also be that he was actually a Major beim Stabe, which is a staf position and not a rank. His rank may have been too low to show up on our radar.

Conceiveably he could also have been (before the war) a Maj.d.R. (i.e.: of the reserves) but did not get a active role during the war.

If you could tell us about his functions and unit postings that might help.

DGS

lewis1 · #10 23rd February 2010, 12:03

I have seen his medals and also photos of him in uniform wearing them.