Generalleutnant Franz Walz began his military career in the infantry in 1905.
12 Facts About Franz Walz
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Franz Walz attained the rank of Hauptmann while becoming a flying ace during World War I Franz Walz flew more than 500 combat sorties in Palestine and on the Western Front.
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Franz Walz scored seven confirmed aerial victories in the latter theater.
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Franz Walz was born in Speyer, Kingdom of Bavaria, the German Empire on 4 December 1885.
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Franz Walz enlisted for military service with Bavaria's 8th Infantry Regiment on 15 July 1905.
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Franz Walz 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.
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On 5 September 1916, having already received both classes of the Iron Cross, Franz Walz received the House Order of Hohenzollern.
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However, Franz Walz was found lacking as a leader of fighter pilots, and on 25 August 1917 was transferred from France on the Western Front to the Middle East to command Flieger-Abteilung 304.
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Franz Walz was released after war's end, on 1 December 1919.
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Franz Walz served with both the Reichswehr and the State Police.
11.
Once the Luftwaffe was established, Franz Walz returned to aviation duty and ascended in rank.
12.
Franz Walz died as a prisoner of war in Breslau, Silesia on 18 December 1945.