# Franz Walz > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Franz_Walz > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Franz_Walz.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Walz > Source revision: 1352938381 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Franz Walz Nickname "Eagle of Jericho" Born (1885-12-04)4 December 1885 Speyer, Kingdom of Bavaria, the German Empire Died 18 December 1945(1945-12-18) (aged 60) Breslau, Silesia Allegiance German Empire Nazi Germany Branch Imperial German Army Luftstreitkräfte Luftwaffe Service years 1905–1920 1934–1945 Rank Generalleutnant Commands Feldflieger Abteilung 3 Kampfstaffel 2 Jagdstaffel 19 Jagdstaffel 2 Jagdstaffel 34 Flieger-Abteilung 304 Conflicts World War I World War II Awards Pour le Merite Royal House Order of Hohenzollern Iron Cross (both classes) 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](/source/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](/source/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.[1] ## Biography Franz Walz was born in [Speyer](/source/Speyer), [Kingdom of Bavaria](/source/Kingdom_of_Bavaria), the [German Empire](/source/German_Empire) on 4 December 1885. He enlisted for military service with [Bavaria's](/source/Kingdom_of_Bavaria) 8th Infantry Regiment on 15 July 1905. In 1908, he was promoted to *[Leutnant](/source/Leutnant)*. Walz learned to fly before the [First World War](/source/First_World_War),[2] having transferred to aviation in 1912.[1] ## First World War When the war began, Walz was the commander of *[Feldflieger Abteilung](/source/Feldflieger_abteilung) 3* (Field Flier Detachment 3). In November 1914, he was promoted to *[Oberleutnant](/source/Oberleutnant)*.[2] 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.[2] On 5 September 1916, having already received both classes of the [Iron Cross](/source/Iron_Cross), Franz Walz received the [House Order of Hohenzollern](/source/House_Order_of_Hohenzollern). On 3 November, he was assigned to command a [fighter squadron](/source/Fighter_squadron), *[Jagdstaffel 19](/source/Jagdstaffel_19)*. On 29 November, he was transferred to command of *[Jagdstaffel 2](/source/Jagdstaffel_2)*.[2] Walz was promoted to *[Hauptmann](/source/Hauptmann)* on 20 January 1917. On 14 May 1917, he shot down [William Curphey](/source/William_Curphey) and his [Airco DH.2](/source/Airco_DH.2). On 9 June, Walz was posted to command of *[Jagdstaffel 34](/source/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](/source/Western_Front_(World_War_I)) to the Middle East to command *Flieger-Abteilung 304* (Flier Detachment 304).[2] Here he became known as "The Eagle of Jericho".[1] On 22 July 1918, the [Ottoman Empire](/source/Ottoman_Empire) awarded Franz Walz its Silver [Liakat Medal](/source/Liakat_Medal). On 9 August 1918, despite his low aerial victory score, he was awarded the *[Pour le Merite](/source/Pour_le_Merite)* for prolonged service in command. By this time, he had flown over 500 combat [sorties](/source/Sortie).[2] The [Turkish](/source/Ottoman_Empire) award of the [Order of Osmanieh](/source/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](/source/Kingdom_of_Bavaria), as well as another from their [Austro-Hungarian](/source/Austro-Hungarian) allies.[2] On 20 September 1918, Walz fell into British captivity. He was released after war's end, on 1 December 1919.[2] ## Post-World War I Franz Walz served with both the *[Reichswehr](/source/Reichswehr)* and the State Police. Once the *[Luftwaffe](/source/Luftwaffe)* was established, Walz returned to aviation duty and ascended in rank. On 1 April 1941, he became a *[Generalleutnant](/source/Generalleutnant)*. Later in World War II, he would be captured by the Soviets. He died as a [prisoner of war](/source/Prisoner_of_war) in [Breslau](/source/Breslau), [Silesia](/source/Silesia) on 18 December 1945.[2] ## Endnotes 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-aero_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-aero_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-aero_1-2) ["Generalleutnant Franz Josef Walz"](http://www.geocities.ws/orion47.geo/WEHRMACHT/LUFTWAFFE/Generalleutnant/WALZ_FRANZ.html). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-lines226_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-lines226_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-lines226_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-lines226_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-lines226_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-lines226_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-lines226_2-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-lines226_2-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-lines226_2-8) Franks et al 1993, p. 226. ## References - [Norman Franks](/source/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](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-948817-73-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-948817-73-9), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-948817-73-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-948817-73-1). - [The Aerodrome](http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/walz.php) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Franz Walz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Walz) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Walz?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.