(Photo courtesy of Gareth Collins)
General der Flieger Friedrich Christiansen
Born: 12 Dec 1879 on Wyk, Föhr
Died: 03 Dec 1972 in Innien, Holstein
Promotions:
Bootsmaat der Reserve (30 Sep 1902); Vizesteuermann der Reserve (21 Mar 1915); Leutnant der Reserve der M.A. (18 Feb 1916); Oberleutnant der Reserve der M.A. (25 Jun 1917); Kapitänleutnant der Reserve der M.A. (27 Sep 1918); Ministerialrat (03 Mar 1933); Kapitän zur See (01 Jan 1934); Oberst (01 Mar 1935); Generalmajor (01 Dec 1935); Generalleutnant (01 Aug 1937); General der Flieger (01 Jan 1939)
Career:
Entered Naval-Artillery as a Recruit with the I. Torpedo-Battalion (01 Oct 1902-16 Nov 1901)
Training on Board the Torpedo-Boat ‘S 37’ (17 Nov 1901-19 Dec 1901)
Training on Board the Torpedo-School-Ship ‘Blücher’ (20 Dec 1901-26 Feb 1902)
With the III. Torpedo-Boat-Division (27 Feb 1902-10 May 1902)
With the I. Torpedo-Battalion and on Board the Torpedo-School-Ship ‘Blücher’ (11 May 1902-01 Sep 1902)
With the VI. Torpedo-Boat-Division (02 Sep 1902-17 Sep 1902)
On Board the Torpedo-Boat ‘G 109’ (18 Sep 1902-30 Sep 1902)
Discharged to the Reserve (30 Sep 1909-03 Aug 1914)
Called Up from Reserve and Placed to the Disposal of the I. Torpedo-Division (03 Aug 1914-04 Aug 1914)
Flight-Instructor with the Flying-Battalion Holtenau (04 Aug 1914-04 Jan 1915)
Pilot, Squadron and Wing Leader and Station-Leader with the Flight-Station Zeebrügge (05 Jan 1915-30 Oct 1918)
Placed to the Command of the II. Sea-Flying-Battalion (31 Oct 1918-06 Mar 1919)
Retired (06 Mar 1919)
Pilot and Managing-Director of the Casper Aircraft Plant in Travemünde (01 Apr 1919-31 Dec 1922)
At the same time, Pilot and Squadron-Leader with the III. Naval-Brigade (Von Loewenfeld) (13 Apr 1919-21 Jan 1920)
Kapitän on Heavy Transport with the Merchant-Navy (01 Jan 1923-1930)
Commander of the large Flying-boat Dornier Do X (1930-00 Jan 1933)
Civil Employee of the RLM and Ministerial-Advisor in the RLM (03 Mar 1933-31 Dec 1933)
Entered the Navy, Naval Service Cancelled (01 Jan 1934-02 Jan 1934)
Entered the Luftwaffe as Inspector of Schools of the Luftwaffe, RLM (03 Jan 1934-31 Mar 1935)
Commander of the Command of Flying-Schools (01 Apr 1935-28 Feb 1937)
Officer with Special Duties with the RLM and Luftwaffe High Command (01 Mar 1937-19 Apr 1937)
Korpsführer of the NS-Flying-Corps (Flying-Reserve of the Luftwaffe) (20 Apr 1937-26 Jun 1943)
) Armed Forces Commander in the Netherlands (28 May 1940-07 Apr 1945)
At the same time, Commander-in-Chief of the 25th Army (10 Nov 1944-28 Jan 1945)
Führer-Reserve OKH (07 Apr 1945-05 Jul 1945)
In British, later Dutch Captivity; On 12 Feb 1948 he was sentenced to 12 Years Imprisonment because of Alleged War Crimes by the Dutch Court, however he was released early due to ill health (05 Jul 1945-19 Dec 1951)
Released (19 Dec 1951)

Decorations & Awards:
- Pour le mérite: am 11.12.1917 als Oberleutnant der Reserve der Matrosen-Artillerie und Stationsleiter bei der Flugstation Zeebrügge
- Deutsches Kreuz in Silber: am 01.06.1943 als General der Flieger und Wehrmachtbefehlshaber in den Niederlanden
- Ritterkreuz des Kgl. Preuss. Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern: 27.04.1916
- 1914 EK I: 27.04.1916
- 1914 EK II: 00.03.1915
- Hamburgisches Hanseatenkreuz
- k.u.k. Österr. Militär-Verdienstkreuz III. Klasse mit der Kriegsdekoration
- Grossherzoglich Oldenburgisches Friedrich August-Kreuz II. Klasse: 02.02.1918
- Grossherzoglich Oldenburgisches Friedrich August-Kreuz I. Klasse: 1918
- Kgl. Preuss. Rettungsmedaille am Bande
- Abzeichen für Marine-Flugzeugführer (See)
- Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
- Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV. bis II. Klasse
- Gemeinsames Flugzeugführer und-Beobachter-Abzeichen in Gold mit Brillanten
- Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse mit Schwertern: 30.04.1941
- Kriegsverdienstkreuz I. Klasse mit Schwertern: 30.04.1941
- Goldenes Ehrenzeichen der NSDAP


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