Recipients of the Silver Medal of Military Valor

Johannes_Streich

Johannes Streich (16 April 1891 – 20 August 1977) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 5th Light Division during the early stages of the North African Campaign. Sacked for his poor performance during the Siege of Tobruk, he later briefly commanded the 16th Motorised Infantry Division during the advance on Moscow. A veteran of World War I, he was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Francesco_Baracca

Count Francesco Baracca (9 May 1888 – 19 June 1918) was Italy's top fighter ace of World War I. He was credited with 34 aerial victories. The emblem he wore side by side on his plane of a black horse prancing on its two rear hooves inspired Enzo Ferrari to use it on his racing car and later in his automotive company.

Alfred_Gause

Alfred Gause (14 February 1896 – 30 September 1967) was a German general during World War II.
Gause took part in World War I, and was awarded both the Iron Cross, both Second and First Class. In the interwar years he was among the 4,000 officers selected to remain in the Reichswehr, the restricted sized German army. He served primarily on the staff of the First Prussian Engineer battalion.During the Second World War he was a highly valued staff officer. Gause was initially sent to Africa with a large staff by Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH), the German Army High Command, to act as a liaison officer with the Italian high command, Comando Supremo. Gause had specific instructions not to place himself under the command of Erwin Rommel, but did so when Rommel told him categorically that the command of all troops in Africa were vested in him. This was not correct, but Gause acceded to Rommel's authority, and served as his chief of staff. He proved invaluable to the famous desert commander, who was well known to direct his forces from the front and who frequently would lose touch with his command staff during operations. Gause spent two and a half years serving Rommel in the Afrika Korps. Though initially sent by OKH to keep an eye on the independent commander, they soon developed an excellent working relationship. In December, 1941 Gause was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. In early May 1943 he was rotated into the officer reserve force, and thus was off the continent when the Axis forces in Africa surrendered.

Gause rejoined Rommel in his postings in Italy and Northern France. In September 1944 he became Chief of Staff of the 6th Panzer Army, which he held through the end of November. In April he was assigned to Generalkommando II Armeekorps in Kurland (General staff of Army Corps, Kurland). Alfred Gause was captured by Soviet troops in the Courland Pocket in 1945 and was a prisoner of the Soviets until his release in 1955.

Friedrich_Freiherr_von_Broich

Friedrich Freiherr von Broich (1 January 1896 – 24 September 1974) was a German general during World War II.
Shortly before the beginning of the Second World War, then-Major Broich was placed in command of the 34th Aufklärungsabteilung (Reconnaissance Battalion). In December 1939 Broich took over command of the 21st Cavalry Regiment, which he led during the 1940 campaign in France. After promotion to colonel on 1 September 1940, Broich became commander of the 22nd Cavalry Regiment. During the 1941 Russian campaign Broich commanded the 1st Ritter-Regiment and then on 1 December 1941 took over the 24th Rifle Brigade, which was later converted into a Panzer Grenadier brigade. In November 1942 Broich was appointed to lead the first "Broich" division in the North African theater. In February 1943 Broich was appointed commander of the 10th Panzer Division and promoted to major general.
On 12 May 1943, Broich surrendered to the British Army at Grombalia, Tunisia, along with the remnants of the 10th Panzer Division. He was detained at the Trent Park General Officer's POW Camp for the duration of the war. On 1 June 1943 he was promoted to lieutenant general. On October 7, 1947, Broich was repatriated.

Ludwig_Cruwell

Ludwig Crüwell (20 March 1892 – 25 September 1958) was a German army general who served in the Afrika Korps of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. Crüwell surrendered to the British forces on 29 May 1942 and was interned at Trent Park, the British camp for high-ranking POW where his conversations were subject to covert surveillance.