Edmund Francois

Edmund Francois
Birth name	Josef Matthias Edmund Francois
Birth date	3 March 1915(1915-03-03)
Place of birth	Prüm, Regierungsbezirk Trier, Rhine Province, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Death date	7 March 1945 (aged 30)
Place of death	⚔ Parsken near Graudenz, West Prussia, German Reich
Allegiance	National Socialist Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1936–1945
Rank	Major
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of France Eastern Front
Awards	Iron Cross Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Josef Matthias Edmund Francois (3 March 1915 – 7 March 1945) was a German officer of the Wehrmacht and Flak specialist of the Luftwaffe, finally Major and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in World War II.

Life

Francois joined the Wehrmacht in 1936 and specialized in anti-aircraft warfare, as of 1938 as a NCO (Unteroffizier). He served with the 2nd Abteilung (battalion) Flak-Regiment 26 and was commissioned as Lieutenant (some sources state of the reserves) in Oldenburg on 1 January 1940 receiving rank seniority (Rangdienstalter) from 1 September 1939. He later commanded the 2nd Battery/I. Abteilung/Flak-Lehr-Regiment and was promoted to Captain on 1 July 1943. The 1st Abteilung (battalion) of the Flak-Lehr-Regiment was disbanded in August 1944 after very heavy losses.

At some time between April and May/June 1944, Francois was transferred to the Führer-Flak-Abteilung which was losely subordinated to the Flak-Regiment "Hermann Göring" as IV. (Führer-)Flak-Abteilung. The Führer-Flak-Abteilung with mobile 8.8 cm Flak (88 mm anti-aircraft and anti-tank artillery gun) was partially detached to the new Panzergrenadier-Brigade "von Werthern" (Truppenübungsplatz Arys in East Prussia) which had been formed from the mass of the Führer-Begleit-Regiment.

Francois and his Führer-Flak-Batterie were attached to the Panzergrenadier-Brigade "von Werthern" during its battles in August/September 1944. Its commander, Oberstleutnant Thilo Freiherr von Werthern, was wounded during the start of its operations and thus Hauptmann Francois took over the brigade’s leadership. He would receive the Knight’s Cross for his successful leadership of the brigade during its brief period of operations.

On 16 September 1944, it was subordinate to the 4th Army, XXVI. Army Corps for a short time, with the corps the brigade was cut off in the Courland Pocket. In the course of October 1944, the heavily decimated brigade was disbanded and the remains were absorbed into the now expanded Führer-Begleit-Brigade, the Luftwaffe Flak returned to the Fallschirm-Panzerkorps "Hermann Göring". Serving under the command of an army corps could explain why air force officer Francois was later awarded the Honour Roll Clasp of the Heer and not the Luftwaffe. Francois, now a Major, was appointed battalion commander in the Fallschirm-Panzer-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Regiment Hermann Göring. On c. 21/25 January 1945, after the regiment was expanded to Fallschirm-Panzer-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Brigade "Hermann Göring" (63 officers as well as 3800 NCOs and men) under Colonel Friedrich-August Meyer-Schewe, he was appointed commander of the Fallschirm-Panzer-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Regiment 2 "Hermann Göring" which saw action by the Weichsel River and was destroyed (along with the brigade and the 1st regiment) during the defense of the bridgehead and fortress at Graudenz.

Death

The German War Graves Commission (German: Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge) reports, Major Francois was killed in action during the retreat battles on 7 March 1945 (although other sources state 6 March 1945) 30 kilometers south of Graudenz in West Prussia.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939), 2nd and 1st Class
  • 1st Class on 29 July 1940
• Anti-Aircraft Flak Battle Badge (Flak-Kampfabzeichen)
• Eastern Front Medal on 20 August 1942
• Wound Badge (1939) in Black and Silver
• German Cross in Gold on 20 March 1944
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 20 October 1944
• Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (Ehrenblattspange des Heeres) on 15 February 1945