Erich Straube

Erich Straube (11 December 1887 – 31 March 1971) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II who held several corps level commands. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany.

Erich Straube
Born	11 December 1887
Died	31 March 1971(1971-03-31) (aged 83)
Allegiance	German Empire Weimar Republic Nazi Germany
Branch	German Army
Years of service	1907–1945
Rank	General der Infanterie
Commands	268th Infantry Division XIII Army Corps LXXIV Army Corps LXXXVI Army Corps 1st Parachute Army
Battles / wars	World War I World War II Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Yelnya Offensive Battle of Moscow Battle of the Caucasus Operation Overlord Battle of Hürtgen Forest Operation Veritable
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

In late August 1944 Straube took command of a provisional army made up of approximately 70,000 personnel. This force suffered heavy casualties during the Battle of the Mons Pocket, with approximately 3,500 Germans being killed and 25,000 taken prisoner. Straube escaped.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class (11 September 1914) & 1st Class (5 May 1916)^[1]
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 in 1934
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (15 November 1939) & 1st Class (17 May 1940)^[1]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 19 July 1940 as Generalmajor and commander of 268.Infanterie-Division^[2]
  • 609th Oak Leaves on 30 September 1944 as General der Infanterie and commander of LXXIV. Armeekorps^[3]