Friedrich Wilhelm von Lindeiner-Wildau

Friedrich Wilhelm von Lindeiner-Wildau
Friedrich Wilhelm von Lindeiner-Wildau c. 1940s
Born(1880-12-12)12 December 1880
Glatz, Province of Silesia, German Empire (present-day Kłodzko, Poland)
Died22 May 1963(1963-05-22) (aged 82)
Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, West Germany[1]
Allegiance German Empire (to 1918)
 Weimar Republic (to 1933)
 Nazi Germany (to 1945)
Service / branchPrussian Army (1898–1902, 1908–19)
Schutztruppe (1902–08)
Luftwaffe (1937–45)
Years of service1898–1919
1937–1945
RankOberst
CommandsStalag Luft III
Fusilier Battalion, 1st Foot Guards
2nd Battalion, 1st Foot Guards
Battles / warsMaji Maji Rebellion
World War I World War II
AwardsKnight 1st Class with Swords of the Saxe-Ernestine House Order
Honor Cross 3rd Class with Swords of the Princely Order of Hohenzollern
Order of the Crown, 4th Class
Iron Cross, 1st Class
Iron Cross, 2nd Class

Friedrich-Wilhelm Franz Max Erdmann Gustav von Lindeiner genannt von Wildau (12 December 1880 – 22 May 1963) was a German Staff Officer of the Luftwaffe during World War II. He is best known today for having been the commandant of Stalag Luft III, which is famous for the 'great escape' which took place in 1944.

  1. ^ Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Adelige Häuser B Vol. XII, Vol. 64 of total series. Limburg (Lahn), Germany: C. A. Starke 1977, ISSN 0435-2408, p. 256.