Franz Raithel finished fifth with the German military ski patrol at the 1928 St. Moritz Olympic Games. Two years later he also led the German military ski patrol at the 1930 World Championships placing fifth again. His military rank was lieutenant, later first lieutenant, based in Kempten, Bavaria. He died from severe injuries caused by falling rocks while he was climbing in the Mont Blanc area. His younger brother Helmuth, also an avid skier, was involved in the Hitler-Ludendorff-Putsch in 1923, and was later a member of the Waffen SS.
Germany