Franz Walz

{{Infobox military person | name = Franz Walz | image = Franz Josef Walz.jpg | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1885|12|4|df=y}} | death_date = {{Death date and age|1945|12|18|1885|12|4|df=y}} | burial_label = | burial_place = | birth_place = [[Speyer]], [[Kingdom of Bavaria]], the [[German Empire]] | death_place = [[Breslau]], [[Silesia]] | burial_coordinates =  | nickname = "Eagle of Jericho" | allegiance = [[German Empire]] [[Nazi Germany]] | branch = [[Imperial German Army]] *''[[Luftstreitkräfte]]'' [[Luftwaffe]] | service_years = 1905–1920 1934–1945 | rank = [[Generalleutnant]] | unit = | commands = ''[[Feldflieger abteilung|Feldflieger Abteilung]] 3'' ''Kampfstaffel 2'' ''[[Jagdstaffel 19]]'' ''[[Jagdstaffel 2]]'' ''[[Jagdstaffel 34]]'' ''Flieger-Abteilung 304'' | battles = [[World War I]] [[World War II]] | awards = ''[[Pour le Merite]]'' [[Royal House Order of Hohenzollern]] [[Iron Cross]] (both classes) | relations = | other_work = Police officer }} Generalleutnant '''Franz Walz''' (4 December 1885 – 18 December 1945) began his military career in the infantry in 1905. In 1912, he switched to aviation. He attained the rank of Hauptmann (Captain) while becoming a [[flying ace]] during World War I. He flew more than 500 combat sorties in Palestine and on the Western Front. He scored seven confirmed aerial victories in the latter theater. His later career led him to join the [[Luftwaffe]] during World War II. Toward the end of the war, he was captured by the Russians and died in one of their prison camps in December 1945.<ref name=aero>{{Cite web |title= Generalleutnant Franz Josef Walz |url= http://www.geocities.ws/orion47.geo/WEHRMACHT/LUFTWAFFE/Generalleutnant/WALZ_FRANZ.html}}</ref>

==Biography== Franz Walz was born in [[Speyer]], [[Kingdom of Bavaria]], the [[German Empire]] on 4 December 1885. He enlisted for military service with [[Kingdom of Bavaria|Bavaria's]] 8th Infantry Regiment on 15 July 1905. In 1908, he was promoted to ''[[Leutnant]]''. Walz learned to fly before the [[First World War]],<ref name=lines226>Franks et al 1993, p. 226.</ref> having transferred to aviation in 1912.<ref name=aero/>

==First World War== When the war began, Walz was the commander of ''[[Feldflieger abteilung|Feldflieger Abteilung]] 3'' (Field Flier Detachment 3). In November 1914, he was promoted to ''[[Oberleutnant]]''.<ref name=lines226/>

On 30 December 1915, he took command of ''Kampfstaffel 2'' (Tactical Bomber Squadron 2). He became one of the few German two-seater aces, scoring his first aerial victory on 9 April 1916, and his sixth on 29 July 1916. On 30 July, he was wounded in the foot.<ref name=lines226/>

On 5 September 1916, having already received both classes of the [[Iron Cross]], Franz Walz received the [[House Order of Hohenzollern]]. On 3 November, he was assigned to command a [[fighter squadron]], ''[[Jagdstaffel 19]]''. On 29 November, he was transferred to command of ''[[Jagdstaffel 2]]''.<ref name=lines226/>

Walz was promoted to ''[[Hauptmann]]'' on 20 January 1917. On 14 May 1917, he shot down [[William Curphey]] and his [[Airco DH.2]]. On 9 June, Walz was posted to command of ''[[Jagdstaffel 34]]''. However, Walz was found lacking as a leader of fighter pilots, and on 25 August 1917 was transferred from France on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] to the Middle East to command ''Flieger-Abteilung 304'' (Flier Detachment 304).<ref name=lines226/> Here he became known as "The Eagle of Jericho".<ref name=aero/>

On 22 July 1918, the [[Ottoman Empire]] awarded Franz Walz its Silver [[Liakat Medal]]. On 9 August 1918, despite his low aerial victory score, he was awarded the ''[[Pour le Merite]]'' for prolonged service in command. By this time, he had flown over 500 combat [[sortie]]s.<ref name=lines226/>

The [[Ottoman Empire|Turkish]] award of the [[Order of Osmanieh]] Fourth Class with Swords followed on 15 September 1918. By this time, Walz had also been granted three decorations by his native [[Kingdom of Bavaria]], as well as another from their [[Austro-Hungarian]] allies.<ref name=lines226/>

On 20 September 1918, Walz fell into British captivity. He was released after war's end, on 1 December 1919.<ref name=lines226/>

==Post-World War I== Franz Walz served with both the ''[[Reichswehr]]'' and the State Police. Once the ''[[Luftwaffe]]'' was established, Walz returned to aviation duty and ascended in rank. On 1 April 1941, he became a ''[[Generalleutnant]]''. Later in World War II, he would be captured by the Soviets. He died as a [[prisoner of war]] in [[Breslau]], [[Silesia]] on 18 December 1945.<ref name=lines226/>

==Endnotes== {{reflist}}

==References== * [[Norman Franks]], Frank W. Bailey, Russell Guest. ''Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918''. Grub Street, 1993. {{ISBN|0-948817-73-9}}, {{ISBN|978-0-948817-73-1}}. *[http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/walz.php The Aerodrome] {{DEFAULTSORT:Walz, Franz}} [[Category:1885 births]] [[Category:1945 deaths]] [[Category:German World War I flying aces]] [[Category:People from Speyer]] [[Category:Luftstreitkräfte personnel]] [[Category:Recipients of the Pour le Mérite (military class)]] [[Category:Recipients of the Liakat Medal]] [[Category:Lieutenant generals of the Luftwaffe]] [[Category:German people who died in Soviet detention]] [[Category:German prisoners of war in World War II held by the Soviet Union]] [[Category:Military personnel from Rhineland-Palatinate]] [[Category:Luftwaffe World War II generals]]