Bio of Fregattenkapitän Reinhard "Teddy" Suhren (1916-1984)

Full name: Reinhard Johann Heinz Paul Anton Suhren  
Nickname: Teddy

Date of Birth: 16.04.1916 - Langenschwalbach, Taunus, German Empire  
Date of Death: 25.08.1984 - Halstenbek, West Germany  

Battles and Operations: Battle of the Atlantic, convoy battles HX-133, OG-71, HG-75, ON-87, OS-34, TAW(S), operations in Norwegian and northern waters 1944-1945  

Promotions:  
05.04.1935 Offiziersanwärter  
25.09.1935 Seekadett  
01.07.1936 Fähnrich zur See  
01.01.1938 Oberfähnrich zur See  
01.04.1938 Leutnant zur See  
01.10.1939 Oberleutnant zur See  
01.01.1942 Kapitänleutnant  
01.09.1942 Korvettenkapitän  
01.06.1944 Fregattenkapitän  

Career:  
05.04.1935 entered the Reichsmarine as member of Crew 35  
1935 basic training and sailing course on Gorch Fock  
1935-1936 training cruise on light cruiser Emden to the Americas  
1936-1937 Naval Academy Mürwik  
1937 torpedo, artillery and other specialist courses  
1937-1938 service on destroyer Z 3 Max Schultz  
30.03.1938 transferred to U-boat force and U-boat school  
06.11.1938-21.04.1939 II. Wachoffizier on U-51, U-46 and U-47  
22.04.1939-09.11.1940 I. Wachoffizier on U-48 under commanders Schultze, Rösing and Bleichrodt (nine war patrols)  
10.11.1940-02.03.1941 instructor at torpedo firing school 24. U-Flottille Memel  
03.04.1941-01.10.1942 Kommandant U-564 (six war patrols, 284 days at sea)  
10.1942-1943 instructor and Gruppenführer with 27. U-Flottille (together with Erich Topp)  
1944-1945 Führer der U-Boote Norwegen / FdU Nordmeer (Narvik)  
31.05.1953 founding member of the board of the Deutscher Marinebund  

Awards and Decorations:  
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (25.09.1939)  
U-Boot-Kriegsabzeichen 1939 (21.12.1939)  
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse (25.02.1940)  
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (45. Verleihung, 03.11.1940) as Oberleutnant zur See and I. Wachoffizier on U-48 for his decisive contribution as torpedo officer to the sinking of more than 200,000 GRT of Allied shipping during nine patrols; Heinrich Bleichrodt refused to accept his own Ritterkreuz until Suhren was also decorated because more than half of U-48s successes were due to torpedoes fired and aimed by Suhren while surfaced  
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub (56. Verleihung, 31.12.1941) as Oberleutnant zur See and Kommandant of U-564 for three highly successful patrols in which he sank ten ships for 28,324 GRT (including the British corvette HMS Zinnia on 23.08.1941 during convoy OG-71) and damaged two more for 11,596 GRT  
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern (18. Verleihung, 01.09.1942) as Kapitänleutnant and Kommandant of U-564 for three further outstanding patrols in which he sank another ten ships for 67,981 GRT and damaged three more for 19,440 GRT  
U-Boot-Kriegsabzeichen mit Brillanten (March 1942)  
Wehrmachtbericht mention (17.02.1945)  
Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern (30.01.1944)  

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Reinhard Suhren, universally known as Teddy, was one of the most successful and colourful U-boat commanders of the Second World War. The nickname originated during his cadet days when a marching drill prompted the remark that his gait resembled that of a teddy bear; the name stayed with him for the rest of his life.  

Born in his grandmother's house in Langenschwalbach in the Taunus, he was the second of four children. After passing his Abitur he joined the navy in April 1935. His early career nearly ended in February 1937 when, during carnival leave at the Naval Academy Mürwik, he missed the stricter curfew of his company and was downgraded in his service-worthiness rating, dropping him to the bottom of his class.  

After standard training and a long overseas cruise on the light cruiser Emden he completed all necessary specialist courses and served briefly on the destroyer Z 3 Max Schultz before volunteering for the U-boat arm in 1938. Following U-boat school he spent short periods as second watch officer on several boats before joining the legendary U-48 as first watch officer in April 1939. In that role he took part in nine war patrols and was personally responsible for firing and aiming the majority of the torpedoes that contributed to U-48 becoming the most successful U-boat of the war. Of the roughly 119 torpedoes fired by the boat during his time aboard, 65 were launched by Suhren while surfaced, with an exceptionally high hit rate. His commander Heinrich Bleichrodt insisted that the success of the boat was due far more to the first watch officer than to himself and refused to wear his own Ritterkreuz until Suhren received the same honour. The award was finally presented on 3 November 1940.  

Still six months short of the minimum age of 25 for an independent command, Suhren was sent to the torpedo school as an instructor until he took over the new Type VIIC boat U-564 in April 1941. In six patrols he sank 18 merchant ships for 95,544 GRT, one warship (the corvette HMS Zinnia) and damaged four additional vessels for 28,907 GRT. The first three patrols earned him the Oak Leaves at the end of December 1941. The next three patrols, which included spectacular convoy attacks and the sinking of large tankers such as Victolite and Lubrafol as well as the British freighters British Consul and Empire Cloud, brought the Swords on 1 September 1942, the same day he was promoted to Korvettenkapitän. Only five U-boat commanders received the Swords during the entire war.  

In October 1942 Suhren left U-564 to become an instructor and later chief of staff in the 27th (training) Flotilla, working closely with Erich Topp. In 1944 he was promoted Fregattenkapitän and appointed Führer der U-Boote for Norway and the northern waters, a post he held until the end of the war.  

After the capitulation he spent time in British captivity until his release in April 1946. He settled as a self-employed merchant in Leichlingen on the Rhine and in 1953 became a founding board member of the Deutscher Marinebund. Together with Fritz Brustat-Naval he published the memoir Nasses Eichenlaub in 1983, one of the most vivid first-hand accounts of the U-boat war. Reinhard Suhren died of heart failure on 25 August 1984 at the age of 68 in Halstenbek near Hamburg.  

Unique and interesting facts include that he was the first watch officer ever to receive the Ritterkreuz, that his older brother Gerd Suhren also held the Knight's Cross as a U-boat engineer, and that he fired more successful torpedoes than any other individual during the conflict, many of them before he even became a commander.  



Source:  
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinhard_Suhren  
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinhard_Suhren  
https://uboat.net/men/suhren.htm  
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/34532/Suhren-Reinhard-Johann-Heinz-Paul-Anton.htm  
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/  
https://rk.balsi.de/  
https://www.unithistories.com/  
https://web.archive.org/web/20091027052912fw_/http://geocities.com/orion47.geo/index2.html  
https://forum.axishistory.com/  
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/  
https://www.bundesarchiv.de/en/  
https://www.geni.com/  
https://books.google.com/ (digitized references including Fellgiebel, Scherzer and Patzwall works)  
https://uboat.net/  
https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.de/  
Brustat-Naval, Fritz / Suhren, Reinhard: Nasses Eichenlaub. Als Kommandant und F.d.U. im U-Boot-Krieg, Herford 1983  

Bio of Fregattenkapitän Erich Topp (1914-2005)

Full name: Erich Topp. No middle name or additional given names are documented in reliable historical sources, including his Wikipedia entries (English and German), uboat.net profile, Lexikon der Wehrmacht, Traces of War, and other Kriegsmarine records. He is consistently referred to as Erich Topp across all biographical accounts of his service as commander of U-57 and especially U-552 ("Red Devil Boat"), his receipt of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, and his postwar career in the Bundesmarine up to Konteradmiral.
Nickname: No information

Date of Birth: 02.07.1914 - Hannover, Lower Saxony (Germany)
Date of Death: 26.12.2005 - Süßen, Baden-Württemberg (Germany)

Battles and Operations: Battle of the Atlantic, operations in the North Atlantic against convoys, operations off the North American coast, Wolfpack Zieten

NSDAP-Number: Member since May 1933 (no number known)
SS-Number: No information
Religion: No information
Parents: No information
Siblings: No information
Spouse: No information
Children: Two sons, Peter Kay Topp (1945-2015) and Michael Topp (born 1950)

Promotions:
08.04.1934 Offiziersanwärter
01.07.1935 Fähnrich zur See
01.01.1937 Oberfähnrich zur See
01.04.1937 Leutnant zur See
01.04.1939 Oberleutnant zur See
01.09.1941 Kapitänleutnant
17.08.1942 Korvettenkapitän
01.12.1944 Fregattenkapitän
01.11.1959 Kapitän zur See (Bundesmarine)
15.11.1965 Flottillenadmiral (Bundesmarine)
21.12.1966 Konteradmiral (Bundesmarine)

Career:
08.04.1934-13.06.1934 basic training
14.06.1934-26.09.1934 school ship Gorch Fock
27.09.1934-15.06.1935 light cruiser Karlsruhe (training cruise to North America)
30.06.1935-29.06.1936 Naval Academy Mürwik
16.10.1936-31.03.1937 light cruiser Karlsruhe
05.10.1937 U-boat training Neustadt in Holstein
26.09.1938-01.05.1940 1st watch officer on U-46 (three patrols)
05.06.1940-15.09.1940 commander U-57 (four patrols, boat lost in collision 03.09.1940)
04.12.1940-04.11.1944 commander U-552 (12 patrols)
September 1942-1944 commander 27th (Training) U-boat Flotilla
1944 writer of Battle Instructions for Type XXI Elektro U-boats
23.03.1945-26.04.1945 commander U-3010
26.04.1945-20.05.1945 commander U-2513 (surrendered at Horten, Norway)
03.03.1958 joined Bundesmarine as Fregattenkapitän
16.08.1958-1962 staff member Military Committee NATO in Washington D.C.
01.01.1962-30.09.1963 commander amphibious forces
01.10.1963 chief-of-staff Flottenkommando
01.07.1965 sub command department Führungsstab der Marine
01.10.1966-30.09.1969 deputy inspector of the Navy and chief Führungsstab der Marine
December 1969 retirement as Konteradmiral
1970-1984 industrial consultant including Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft

Awards and Decorations:
U-boat War Badge 1939 07.11.1939
Iron Cross 2nd Class 01.01.1940
Iron Cross 1st Class 01.09.1940
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 20.06.1941 (75th award) awarded for the sinking of 14 ships for 89,981 GRT and the damaging of a further 2 ships for 13,597 GRT over the course of five operational cruises as commander of U-57 and U-552. Among the ships sunk was the British armed trawler Commander Horton.
U-boat War Badge with Diamonds 11.04.1942
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub on 11.04.1942 (87th award) awarded following five successful combat cruises which resulted in the sinking of 13 ships for 68,303 GRT. One of these was the US destroyer USS Reuben James which was sunk on 31.10.1941 before the official German declaration of war on the USA. These successes together with earlier ones brought his total to 31 vessels for 208,000 GRT plus a destroyer and a patrol vessel.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern on 17.08.1942 (17th award) awarded after the sinking of 6 ships for 20,994 GRT and the damaging of 3 ships for 25,887 GRT over the course of 2 combat cruises as commander of U-552.
Kriegsmarine honorary dagger with diamonds 17.08.1942
War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords 30.01.1944
War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords 1944
Großes Verdienstkreuz des Verdienstordens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland 19.09.1969

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Erich Topp was born on 2 July 1914 in Hannover and joined the Reichsmarine on 8 April 1934. After basic training and service on the school ship Gorch Fock and the light cruiser Karlsruhe he attended the Naval Academy Mürwik and completed torpedo training. He transferred to the U-boat arm in October 1937 and served as first watch officer on U-46 under Herbert Sohler for three patrols in 1939-1940 during which he received the U-boat War Badge and Iron Cross 2nd Class. On 5 June 1940 he took command of the small Type IIC coastal boat U-57 and conducted four patrols in the North Atlantic and North Channel sinking six ships for 36,862 tons and damaging one more before the boat was lost in a collision with the Norwegian steamer Rona near Brunsbüttel on 3 September 1940. For these successes he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class.

Topp then commissioned the new Type VIIC boat U-552, known as the Red Devil Boat because of the grinning red devil painted on the conning tower, at Blohm & Voss in Hamburg on 4 December 1940 and joined the 7th U-boat Flotilla at St. Nazaire. His first two patrols west of Ireland and south of Iceland brought the sinking of five ships and damage to one more. On the third patrol from 25 May to 2 July 1941 in the North Channel and west of Ireland U-552 sank three ships for over 25,000 tons including the large British steamer Norfolk. The BdU credited these sinkings plus previous successes with a total of fourteen ships sunk for 89,981 GRT and two damaged for 13,597 GRT over five operational cruises. For this record Erich Topp was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 20 June 1941 while still at sea, the 75th recipient overall.

After brief patrols in August and September-October 1941 he conducted the sixth patrol in October-November during which U-552 sank the American destroyer USS Reuben James on 31 October 1941 east of the Grand Banks while escorting Convoy HX-156, the first US Navy warship lost in World War II with 100 of 144 crew lost. The seventh patrol in December 1941-January 1942 as part of Wolfpack Zieten targeted shipping off Nova Scotia and the Grand Banks. The eighth patrol from 7 March to 27 April 1942 along the US East Coast proved exceptionally successful with seven ships sunk for 45,731 tons in American coastal waters. These additional sinkings brought his cumulative total to thirty-one vessels for 208,000 GRT plus a destroyer and a patrol vessel. While still at sea on 11 April 1942 Topp received notification of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, the 87th award, together with the U-boat War Badge with Diamonds.

On the ninth patrol in June 1942 west of Spain against Convoy HG-84 he sank five ships for 15,825 tons. The tenth patrol from 4 July to 13 August 1942 in the North Atlantic added two ships sunk for 14,555 tons and two damaged for 18,720 tons. These two cruises accounted for six ships sunk for 20,994 GRT and three damaged for 25,887 GRT. Upon return to St. Nazaire on 13 August 1942 Erich Topp was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords on 17 August 1942, the 17th recipient of the Swords, and was promoted to Korvettenkapitän the same day. He also received the Kriegsmarine honorary dagger with diamonds.

In September 1942 Topp left front-line service to become commander of the 27th (Training) U-boat Flotilla in Gotenhafen where he trained new crews. In 1944 he wrote the official Battle Instructions for the revolutionary Type XXI Elektro U-boats. He briefly commanded U-3010 and then took over the new Type XXI boat U-2513 on 26 April 1945, surrendering it at Horten, Norway on 20 May 1945. After release from captivity in August 1945 he studied architecture at the Technical University of Hannover, graduating in 1950, and worked as an architect and technical advisor. He rejoined the Bundesmarine on 3 March 1958, served four years at NATO in Washington D.C., held various staff and command positions including commander of amphibious forces and deputy inspector of the Navy, and retired as Konteradmiral in December 1969. That year he received the Großes Verdienstkreuz of the Federal Republic of Germany. From 1970 until 1984 he worked as an industrial consultant, notably for Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft. He was technical advisor for several films including Sharks and Little Fish (1957), The Bedford Incident (1965) and contributed to the computer game Silent Hunter II. His memoirs The Odyssey of a U-Boat Commander were published in 1992. Erich Topp died on 26 December 2005 in Süßen at the age of 91 and was survived by his two sons and five grandchildren.

Unique and interesting facts include that he painted a red devil emblem on the conning tower of U-552 which became famous, maintained a lifelong friendship with fellow ace Engelbert Endrass, was personally acquainted with Martin Bormann and invited to Berchtesgaden, had a Jewish aunt by marriage who survived Theresienstadt, kept an oil painting of Endrass and a periscope from U-552 in his home after the war, designed the Stadthalle in Mülheim an der Ruhr, and openly criticized Karl Dönitz postwar for his knowledge of the Holocaust and unwavering National Socialist convictions.

Source:
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/
https://en.wikipedia.org/
https://www.tracesofwar.com/
https://uboat.net/
https://www.unithistories.com/
https://forum.axishistory.com/
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/
https://www.bundesarchiv.de/en/
https://www.geni.com/
https://books.google.com/
https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.de/
Topp, Erich. The Odyssey of a U-Boat Commander: Recollections of Erich Topp. Praeger, 1992.
Busch, Rainer and Röll, Hans-Joachim. German U-boat Commanders of World War II. Naval Institute Press, 1999.
Rohwer, Jürgen and Hümmelchen, Gerhard. Chronology of the War at Sea 1939-1945. Naval Institute Press, 1992.
Vause, Jordan. U-Boat Aces. Naval Institute Press, 1997.
Scherzer, Veit. Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939-1945. Scherzers Militaer-Verlag, 2007.

Bio of Oberst Werner Baumbach (1916-1953)

Full name: Werner Baumbach. All reliable historical sources consistently list him as Werner Baumbach without any additional middle name. One isolated mention in an aviation database (Kracker Luftwaffe Archive) speculates "Werner Georg or Georg Werner," but this appears to be unverified conjecture and is not supported by official biographies, award citations, or his own postwar memoirs (Zu spät / Broken Swastika). He is universally referred to as Werner Baumbach in military histories, promotion lists, and award announcements.

Nickname: He does not appear to have had a widely recognized or official nickname (Spitzname in German) documented in historical sources, award citations, biographies, or postwar accounts. Unlike some other prominent Luftwaffe figures—such as Erich Hartmann ("Bubi"), Adolf Galland ("Dolfo"), or Werner Mölders ("Vati")—Baumbach is consistently referred to simply by his full name Werner Baumbach across reliable references

Date of Birth: 27.12.1916 - Cloppenburg, German Empire
Date of Death: 20.10.1953 - near Berazategui, Argentina (plane crash over the Rio de la Plata estuary)

Battles and Operations: Invasion of Poland, Norwegian Campaign, Battle of France, Battle of Britain, North Sea and Atlantic anti-shipping operations, Arctic convoy attacks and support for Eastern Front operations, Mediterranean and Black Sea operations (late 1942), Special missions with KG 200 including Mistel composite aircraft.

Parents: Unknown / not documented in standard sources.
Siblings: Unknown / no mentions.
Spouse: Married (evidenced by family emigration in 1948), but name unknown.
Children: At least one (implied by "family" references in emigration accounts), but number and names unknown.

Promotions:
06.04.1936 Fahnenjunker
01.01.1938 Leutnant
01.06.1940 Oberleutnant
20.07.1941 Hauptmann
14.10.1942 Major
01.11.1944 Oberstleutnant
05.01.1945 Oberst

Career:
1936-1938 training at Luftkriegsschule Berlin-Gatow and early test flying
1938 Kettenführer at Erprobungsstelle Rechlin
1939 6. Staffel, II. Gruppe, Lehrgeschwader 1
1940 5. Staffel, II. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 30 Adler
1940 Staffelkapitän 4./KG 30 then back to 5./KG 30
1941 Staffelkapitän 5./KG 30 and later Kommandeur I./KG 30
1942 Kommandeur III./KG 30 and various staff roles with Kampfflieger
1943 Inspekteur der Kampfflieger and special duties on remote-controlled weapons
1944 Kommodore Kampfgeschwader 200
1945 Fliegerführer and commander of the Regierungsstaffel under the Flensburg Government

Awards and Decorations:
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (28.09.1939) as Leutnant and pilot in 6./LG 1
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse (04.05.1940) as Leutnant and pilot in 5./KG 30 for bombing and damaging the French cruiser Emile Bertin on 19.04.1940
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (08.05.1940) as Leutnant and pilot in 5./KG 30 for achieving a direct hit on the French cruiser Emile Bertin off the Norwegian coast on 19.04.1940 after completing 26 combat sorties in the Norwegian Campaign
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub (14.07.1941) as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of 5./KG 30 for sinking a total of 240000 gross register tons of enemy shipping up until 27.02.1941 together with his crew through repeated precision attacks on Allied vessels in the North Sea area east of Harwich and other sea lanes
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern (17.08.1942) as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of I./KG 30 for bringing his personal and crew total of sunk enemy shipping to over 300000 gross register tons through continued anti-shipping strikes
Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Silber (22.03.1941)
Luftwaffe Ehrenpokal (22.04.1941)
Gemeinsames Flugzeugführer- und Beobachterabzeichen in Gold mit Brillianten (14.07.1941)
Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Gold mit Anhänger 200 (1942)
Narvikschild

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Werner Baumbach, one of the most successful bomber pilots and anti-shipping experts of the Luftwaffe, distinguished himself early in the war through daring low-level and dive-bombing attacks with the Junkers Ju 88. Joining Kampfgeschwader 30 Adler he flew numerous missions during the Norwegian Campaign in April 1940. On 19 April 1940 he scored a direct hit on the French light cruiser Emile Bertin while it lay off Andalsnes, damaging the vessel severely. This action, achieved after only 26 combat sorties, brought him the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 8 May 1940 while still a Leutnant.

Continuing operations from bases in Norway and later against British convoys and coastal shipping, Baumbach and his experienced crew racked up an extraordinary record. By the end of February 1941 they had accounted for 240000 gross register tons of Allied shipping sunk, often in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire and fighter opposition in the North Sea and approaches to Harwich. These sustained successes, highlighted in several Wehrmachtberichte, earned him the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross on 14 July 1941 as the 20th recipient while serving as Staffelkapitän. By the summer of 1942 his total had risen to more than 300000 gross register tons through further strikes on merchant vessels and escorts, qualifying him for the Swords on 17 August 1942 as Gruppenkommandeur. In all he flew 147 front-line sorties as a bomber pilot.

Later transferred to staff and experimental duties, Baumbach became deeply involved in advanced projects including the Mistel composite bomber system and in November 1944 took command of the secret special-operations unit Kampfgeschwader 200. In the final weeks of the war he led the government air squadron under the short-lived Flensburg administration. After six months as a British prisoner of war he was cleared of any violations of the laws of war and released. He emigrated to Argentina in 1948, worked as a technical adviser and test pilot, and authored the widely read memoir Zu spät on the rise and fall of the Luftwaffe. On 20 October 1953, at the age of 36, he was killed when the British Lancaster bomber he was evaluating for the Argentine Air Force crashed near Berazategui.

Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werner_Baumbach
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28270/Baumbach-Werner.htm
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/B/BaumbachW.htm
https://rk.balsi.de/index.php?action=list&cat=300
https://www.ww2.dk/lwoffz.html
https://forum.axishistory.com/
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/
https://www.bundesarchiv.de/en/
https://books.google.com/
Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Podzun-Pallas, 2000.
Scherzer, Veit. Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939-1945. Scherzers Militaer-Verlag, 2007.
Thomas, Franz & Wegmann, Günter. Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945. Biblio-Verlag, 1997.
Urbaneke, Axel & Kaiser, Jochen. Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kampfflieger. Luftfahrtverlag-Start, 2011.
Baumbach, Werner. Broken Swastika: The Defeat of the Luftwaffe. 1960 English edition of Zu spät? Aufstieg und Untergang der deutschen Luftwaffe.

Bio of Leutnant d.R. Leopold Steinbatz (1918-1942)

Full name: Leopold Steinbatz. He is consistently referred to by this name across historical records, Luftwaffe documentation, award citations, and biographies (no additional middle names or variations appear in reliable sources).

Nickname: "Bazi". This was an affectionate diminutive or colloquial nickname common in Austrian and Bavarian German dialects. "Bazi" (or "Bazi" in dialect spelling) is a regional term meaning a prankster, rascal, naughty boy, cheeky fellow, or little rogue—essentially a playful way to describe someone mischievous, bold, or spirited in a light-hearted, endearing manner.  

Date of Birth: 25.10.1918 - Wien-Stammersdorf, Österreich  
Date of Death: 15.06.1942 - bei Woltschansk nahe Charkow, Sowjetunion (vermisst)  

Battles and Operations: Balkanfeldzug, Unternehmen Merkur (Kreta), Operation Barbarossa, Battle of Kharkov, Krimfeldzug  

NSDAP-Number: No information  
SS-Number: No information  
Religion: No information  
Parents: No information  
Siblings: No information  
Spouse: Married  
Children: No information  

Promotions:  
20.02.1942 Oberfeldwebel der Reserve  
01.06.1942 Leutnant der Reserve (posthumous)  

Career:  
1937-03.1938 Austrian Bundesheer, Flieger-Ausbildungsregiment Wiener Neustadt, pilot training  
03.1938-1939 Luftwaffe after Anschluss, fighter pilot training at Jagdfliegerschule Wien-Aspern  
1939-08.1940 Ergänzungsgruppe/JG 52  
10.1940-01.1941 9. Staffel/III. Gruppe JG 52 (temporarily I. Gruppe JG 28), deployed to Romania for oilfield protection and training  
04.1941 Balkan operations in reserve guarding Ploesti oilfields  
05.1941 ground support missions during Battle of Crete  
06.1941-06.1942 9. Staffel/III. Gruppe JG 52 on Eastern Front, bases including Belaya Tserkov, Poltava, Chaplynka, Taganrog, Kharkov, Belgorod  

Awards and Decorations:  
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (1941)
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse (1941)
Kombiniertes Flugzeugführer- und Beobachterabzeichen (1941)
Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (1941/42)
Frontflugspange der Luftwaffe in Gold mit Anhänger „300“ (1942)
Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (08.12.1941)
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (22.01.1942)
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (14.02.1942) as Feldwebel and pilot in 9./JG 52 for achieving his 42nd confirmed aerial victory on the Eastern Front. By this point he had flown more than 200 combat sorties, repeatedly distinguishing himself in fighter escort missions, free hunts, and protection of German ground forces and vital infrastructure in the southern sector. The award recognized his consistent success against superior numbers of Soviet aircraft while operating from forward bases under difficult conditions.
Krimschild (1942)
Nennung im Wehrmachtbericht (03.05.1942)
Nennung im Wehrmachtbericht (31.05.1942)
Nennung im Wehrmachtbericht (12.06.1942)
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub (02.06.1942) #96 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52, and only the third NCO in the Luftwaffe to receive it, after he reached his 83rd confirmed aerial victory. This came during the intense spring 1942 fighting around Kharkov, the Barvenkovo-Lozovaya offensive, and the Crimea operations. He achieved multiple high-scoring days, including six victories on 2 May and nine on 8 May 1942, while providing critical air support for the ongoing campaigns. The Oak Leaves honoured his exceptional marksmanship, leadership as a Rottenflieger, and relentless combat tempo despite increasing fatigue.
Nennung im Wehrmachtbericht (25.06.1942)
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern (23.06.1942, posthumous) #14 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52, and the only non-commissioned officer ever to receive this grade, in recognition of his final total of 99 confirmed aerial victories, all scored on the Eastern Front in roughly 390 combat missions. On 15 June 1942 he claimed four more Soviet aircraft before being shot down by anti-aircraft fire near Woltschansk/Shebekino. The Swords were the ultimate acknowledgement of his outstanding bravery, skill, and contribution to JG 52 during the decisive 1941–42 campaigns; he remains the sole enlisted-rank recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords in Wehrmacht history!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Leopold Steinbatz, an Austrian-born fighter pilot known affectionately as Bazi among his comrades, began his military journey in 1937 when he volunteered for the Austrian Armed Forces after completing his apprenticeship as a butcher and learning to fly gliders in his youth. Following the Anschluss in March 1938 he transferred seamlessly into the Luftwaffe and completed fighter pilot training at the Jagdfliegerschule in Wien-Aspern. He was posted to the Ergänzungsgruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 in 1939 and joined 9. Staffel of III. Gruppe JG 52 in August 1940. From October 1940 the unit moved to Romania to protect the Ploesti oilfields and train Romanian pilots on the Bf 109E. In April 1941 the Staffel guarded the southeastern flank during the invasion of Yugoslavia before shifting to ground-attack and escort missions over Greece and Crete in May 1941 as part of Unternehmen Merkur.  

With the launch of Operation Barbarossa in June 1941 Steinbatz flew his first combat sorties on the Eastern Front, claiming his opening victory, an I-16, on 4 August 1941. Operating from forward bases around Kiev, Poltava and Rostov-on-Don he steadily built his score while escorting Stukas and protecting German advances. By early 1942 he had become one of the most successful non-commissioned pilots in JG 52. After claiming his 42nd aerial victory he received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 14 February 1942 as Feldwebel der Reserve in 9. Staffel JG 52. The award recognized his consistent performance in more than 200 combat missions, during which he had downed numerous Soviet fighters and bombers while providing vital air cover for ground troops and oil installations in the southern sector. Following the award he was granted extended home leave.  

Returning to the front, Steinbatz flew with renewed intensity during the Barvenkovo-Lozovaya offensive and the battles around Kharkov in spring 1942. On 2 May 1942 he achieved six victories in a single day against Soviet I-61 and I-153 fighters. On 8 May he surpassed this with nine confirmed kills in one mission, a feat that highlighted his exceptional situational awareness and marksmanship under heavy opposition. These actions, combined with steady scoring in escort and free-hunt patrols supporting the Crimea operations and the siege of Sevastopol, brought his total to 83 victories by the beginning of June. For this outstanding record he was awarded the Eichenlaub on 2 June 1942 as Oberfeldwebel der Reserve, becoming only the third non-commissioned officer in the Luftwaffe to receive the Oak Leaves at that time. His Rottenflieger Hermann Graf later recalled Steinbatz flying with almost reckless determination after reaching the 80-victory mark, pushing himself despite visible strain and fatigue.  

On 15 June 1942, operating east of Volchansk near Kharkov, Steinbatz claimed four additional Soviet aircraft in the course of several sorties, raising his confirmed total to 99 victories after roughly 300 to 390 combat missions, all on the Eastern Front. Later that same day his Bf 109 F-4/R1 (Werknummer 13357) was hit by Soviet anti-aircraft artillery near Shebekino. He was reported missing and his body was never recovered. Eight days later, on 23 June 1942, he was posthumously awarded the Schwerter to the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, the 14th such award in the Wehrmacht and the only one ever bestowed upon a non-commissioned officer. The Swords recognized his 99 victories and his role as one of the most successful fighter pilots in JG 52 during the critical 1941-42 campaigns. On 23 July 1942 the Luftwaffe-Personalamt announced his posthumous promotion to Leutnant der Reserve, effective 1 June 1942, on the direct orders of Reichsmarschall Göring. Steinbatz remains the sole enlisted-rank recipient of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords in the entire Wehrmacht.  

Source:  
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_Steinbatz  
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_Steinbatz  
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/27071/Steinbatz-Leopold.htm  
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/S/SteinbatzL.htm  
https://rk.balsi.de/  
https://forum.axishistory.com/  
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/  
https://www.bundesarchiv.de/en/  
https://www.geni.com/  
https://www.ww2.dk/lwoffz.html  
https://aircrewremembered.com/KrackerDatabase/?q=units  
Bergström, Christer. Black Cross / Red Star: The Air War over the Eastern Front, Volume 2. Pacifica Military History, 2001.  
Weal, John. Jagdgeschwader 52: The Experten. Osprey Publishing, 2004.  
Barbas, Bernd. Die Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 52, 1939-1945. Verlag K. W. Schütz, 2010.

Bio of Oberleutnant Max-Hellmuth Ostermann (1917-1942)

Full name: Max-Hellmuth Ostermann. This is the consistently used form across all reliable historical sources. It appears as his official given name (Vorname) with the hyphenated compound first name "Max-Hellmuth" (sometimes written without the hyphen as Max Hellmuth in informal or older English texts, but the hyphenated version is standard in German records and most modern references). A few sources occasionally spell it as Max-Helmuth Ostermann (with "Helmuth" instead of "Hellmuth"), but this appears to be a minor orthographic variation or anglicized/transliterated difference—the predominant and accepted spelling is Max-Hellmuth Ostermann. No evidence exists of additional middle names or alternate full names beyond this. 

Nickname: No information  

Date of Birth: 11.12.1917 - Hamburg, German Empire  
Date of Death: 09.08.1942 - near Amossowo, Lake Ilmen area, Soviet Union  

Nationality: German  
Religion: No information  
Parents: Father a civil servant  
Siblings: No information  
Spouse: No information  
Children: No information  

Promotions  
00.03.1937 Fahnenjunker  
01.08.1939 Leutnant  
04.09.1941 Oberleutnant  

Career  
00.03.1937 joined the Luftwaffe as Fahnenjunker and trained as a Zerstörer pilot flying the Bf 110 with I./ZG 1  
00.09.1939 Leutnant with 1./ZG 1 participating in the Invasion of Poland  
00.03.1940 transferred to 1./JG 21 due to his small stature requiring wooden blocks on the rudder pedals for tight turns in the Bf 109  
00.05.1940 participated in the Battle of France claiming his first victory on 20 May 1940  
00.08.1940 redesignated 7./JG 54 and participated in the Battle of Britain  
00.04.1941 Balkans Campaign claiming one victory over Belgrade  
22.06.1941 transferred with III./JG 54 to the Eastern Front for Operation Barbarossa  
01.08.1941 temporarily led 7./JG 54  
05.11.1941 temporarily led 3./JG 54  
12.03.1942 appointed Staffelkapitän of 8./JG 54  
01.08.1942 re-appointed Staffelkapitän of 8./JG 54  
09.08.1942 killed in action as Staffelkapitän of 8./JG 54  

Awards and Decorations  
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (31.05.1940)  
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse (1940)  
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (04.09.1941) as Leutnant and Flugzeugführer in 7./JG 54 for 29 aerial victories  
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub (12.03.1942) as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän in 8./JG 54 for 62 aerial victories  
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern (17.05.1942) as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän in 8./JG 54 for 100 aerial victories  
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz (12.05.1942)  
Frontflugspange für Jäger in Gold mit Anhänger und Einsatzzahl 300  
Gemeinsames Flugzeugführer- und Beobachterabzeichen  
Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on several occasions including 24.04.1942 07.05.1942 14.05.1942 and posthumously 14.08.1942

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Max-Hellmuth Ostermann joined the Luftwaffe in March 1937 after completing his Abitur and began training as a Zerstörer pilot but his small physical stature led to a transfer to single-engine fighters with JG 21 where he flew the Bf 109. He opened his victory tally during the Battle of France on 20 May 1940 by downing a Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 west of Péronne and added further claims including Spitfires and Hurricanes over England during the Battle of Britain while serving in what became 7./JG 54. In the Balkans Campaign he claimed one Yugoslav Bf 109 over Belgrade on 6 April 1941. With the launch of Operation Barbarossa on 22 June 1941 Ostermann rapidly accumulated victories on the Eastern Front claiming multiple Tupolev SB bombers in the first days including three on 5 July and two more on 6 July near Ostrov. On 1 August 1941 he claimed JG 54s 1000th victory of the war. By early September 1941 he had reached 29 confirmed aerial victories which earned him the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 4 September 1941 as the eighth pilot in his Geschwader to receive the award. This recognition came for his consistent success in escort and interception missions during the opening phase of the campaign against the Red Air Force where he demonstrated exceptional skill in dogfights and bomber interceptions despite frequent combat damage including belly landings. Continuing operations through the winter and into 1942 Ostermann maintained a high scoring rate reaching his 50th victory on 9 January his 60th on 28 January and his 62nd by early March. For this sustained performance and leadership he received the Eichenlaub on 12 March 1942 and was promptly appointed Staffelkapitän of 8./JG 54. In the weeks that followed he added pairs of victories on 19 March and 27 April pushing toward the century mark. On 12 May 1942 he claimed his 100th aerial victory becoming only the sixth pilot overall and the second in JG 54 to achieve this milestone but in the same engagement his Bf 109 F-4 was hit by enemy fire or flak wounding him severely in the right arm and upper thigh. Despite the injuries and aircraft damage he managed to nurse the fighter back to his airfield and force-land safely. While still hospitalized five days later on 17 May 1942 he was awarded the Schwerter to the Ritterkreuz in recognition of reaching 100 victories and his overall combat record of more than 300 sorties with repeated displays of courage under fire. The formal presentation of the Swords took place at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze on 28 and 29 June 1942. Recovering from his wounds Ostermann returned to duty only to be killed in action on 9 August 1942 near Lake Ilmen. Flying his Bf 109 G-2 at low altitude with his wingman he downed a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk for his 102nd and final victory but was then attacked from behind by Soviet LaGG-3 fighters and shot down in the cockpit by Starshiy Leytenant Arkady Ivanovich Sukov of 41 IAP causing his aircraft to crash into woods southeast of the lake. With 102 confirmed victories including eight in the West one in the Balkans and 93 on the Eastern Front Ostermann ranked among the leading aces of Jagdgeschwader 54 Grünherz at the time of his death.  

Unique and interesting facts include that due to his very small stature wooden blocks had to be fitted to the rudder pedals of his Bf 109 so he could reach them during tight combat turns. His youthful appearance once caused him to be briefly arrested while on leave as authorities mistook the decorated pilot for a child impersonating an officer on his way to his own wedding ceremony. He was shot down or forced to land five times during his career but survived until his fatal mission on 9 August 1942 and was the first recipient of the Oak Leaves and Swords to die in aerial combat during the Second World War.  



Source:  
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max-Hellmuth_Ostermann  
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/34530/Ostermann-Max-Helmuth-Jagdgeschwader-54.htm  
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/O/OstermannMH.htm  
https://www.ww2.dk/lwoffz.html  
https://rk.balsi.de/index.php?action=list&cat=300  
https://aircrewremembered.com/KrackerDatabase/?q=units  
https://forum.axishistory.com/  
Obermaier Ernst. Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe. Band 1 Jagdflieger 1939-1945. Mainz Verlag Dieter Hoffmann 1989.  
Weal John. Jagdgeschwader 54 Grünherz. Osprey Publishing 2001.  
Bergström Christer Mikhailov Andrey. Black Cross Red Star. Volume 2. Pacifica Military History 2000.  
https://www.bundesarchiv.de/en/  
https://www.geni.com/  
https://books.google.com/ (various previews on JG 54 and Luftwaffe aces)  
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/  
https://web.archive.org/web/20091027052912fw_/http://geocities.com/orion47.geo/index2.html  
https://www.unithistories.com/units_index/index.php?file=/officers/personsx.html

Bio of Oberst Herbert Ihlefeld (1914-1995)

Full name: Herbert Ihlefeld. Historical records, military biographies, award citations (such as those for the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern), and primary sources from the era consistently list him simply as Herbert Ihlefeld, with no middle name, additional given names, or variations documented. He was commonly referred to by the nickname "Ihle" among fellow pilots and in some personal accounts.

Nickname: Ihle

Date of Birth: 01.06.1914 - Pinnow, Pomerania (German Empire)
Date of Death: 08.08.1995 - Wennigsen, Lower Saxony (Germany)

Battles and Operations: Spanish Civil War, Polish Campaign, Western Campaign, Battle of Britain, Balkan Campaign, Operation Barbarossa, Eastern Front operations 1941-1942, Reichsverteidigung, Operation Bodenplatte

Religion: No information
Parents: son of a farm laborer (name unknown)
Siblings: No information
Spouse: No information
Children: No information

Promotions:
00.10.1935 Unteroffizier
20.08.1938 Leutnant
01.06.1940 Oberleutnant
01.10.1940 Hauptmann
00.06.1942 Major
01.02.1944 Oberstleutnant
30.01.1945 Oberst

Career:
01.04.1933 volunteered for Reichswehr service as Grenadier in Infanterie-Regiment 5, Stettin
1934 posted to aviation technical school at Jüterbog
March 1935 transferred to Luftwaffe for flight training
March 1937 assigned to I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 132 Richthofen
late 1937 volunteered for Condor Legion in Spain, assigned to 2. Staffel of Jagdgruppe 88 until July 1938
01.08.1938 posted to I. Gruppe of Lehrgeschwader 2 (later operating as I. Gruppe JG 77)
September 1940 appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I. Gruppe JG 77
April 1941 participated in Balkan Campaign with I. Gruppe JG 77
22.06.1941 began operations on Eastern Front with I. Gruppe JG 77 under Heeresgruppe Süd
10.05.1942 relieved as Gruppenkommandeur and assigned to staff training with Geschwaderstab JG 51
22.06.1942 appointed Geschwaderkommodore of JG 52
28.10.1942 passed command of JG 52 and took over leadership of Jagdfliegerschule 3 (later JG 103)
21.07.1943 formed and commanded JG Nord (redesignated JG 25) for high-altitude interception duties
May 1944 briefly served as Geschwaderkommodore of JG 11
20.05.1944 appointed Geschwaderkommodore of JG 1 Oesau
01.01.1945 led JG 1 during Operation Bodenplatte
04.05.1945 surrendered with JG 1 at Lüneburg Heath to British forces
post-war worked as civilian pilot and did not rejoin the Bundesluftwaffe

Awards and Decorations:
Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords (for service in Condor Legion)
Wound Badge in Black
Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant 1000
Combined Pilots-Observation Badge
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (26.09.1939)
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse (04.07.1940)
Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (12.06.1941)
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (09.04.1942)
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (13.09.1940) as Oberleutnant and pilot in I.(J)/LG 2 for 21 aerial victories during the Battle of Britain
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub (27.06.1941, 16. Verleihung) as Hauptmann and Kommandeur I. Gruppe JG 77 for reaching 40 aerial victories in the opening phase of Operation Barbarossa
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern (24.04.1942, 9. Verleihung) as Hauptmann and Kommandeur I. Gruppe JG 77 after his 101st aerial victory on the Eastern Front
Mentioned in Wehrmachtbericht (27.06.1941, 26.03.1942, 31.03.1942, 20.05.1942)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Herbert Ihlefeld rose from humble beginnings as the son of a Pomeranian farm laborer to become one of the most durable and successful fighter pilots of the Luftwaffe, credited with between 123 and 132 aerial victories in more than 1,000 combat sorties across multiple theaters while surviving eight shoot-downs. After basic infantry service he transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1935, completed pilot training, and volunteered for the Condor Legion in Spain where he claimed nine victories flying the Bf 109, earning the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords. Returning to Germany he joined I. Gruppe of Lehrgeschwader 2 and flew in the Polish and French campaigns before the intense air battles over the English Channel and Britain in 1940.

The Ritterkreuz was awarded on 13 September 1940 during the height of the Battle of Britain after Ihlefeld had accumulated 21 confirmed victories in World War II. As Staffelkapitän of 2. Staffel in I.(J)/LG 2 he repeatedly engaged RAF Spitfires and Hurricanes in large-scale fighter sweeps and escorts, claiming multiple kills on days such as 22 August (two Spitfires near Dover), 24 August (two more Spitfires over Kent), 2 September (two Spitfires over Hornchurch), and 5-7 September (further Hurricanes and Spitfires during raids on London). His steady accumulation of victories while protecting bomber formations and conducting free hunts demonstrated outstanding marksmanship, tactical awareness, and resilience under heavy anti-aircraft fire and superior numbers of enemy fighters.

Transferred to the Eastern Front in June 1941 as Gruppenkommandeur of I. Gruppe JG 77, Ihlefeld achieved even greater success in the opening days of Operation Barbarossa. On 23 June he claimed two SB-2 bombers during escort missions for Kampfgeschwader 27, followed by two DB-3 bombers on 26 June near Chernivtsi, bringing his total to 40 victories. These rapid claims, achieved while providing air cover for advancing ground forces and conducting fighter sweeps over Soviet airfields, showcased his ability to exploit the initial surprise and numerical superiority in the southern sector. For this performance he received the Eichenlaub on 27 June 1941 as the 16th member of the Wehrmacht so honored.

Continuing operations on the Eastern Front through 1941 and early 1942, Ihlefeld led his Gruppe to over 300 claimed victories while personally reaching 101 aerial victories by 22 April 1942, including an ace-in-a-day on 30 August 1941 and seven claims on 20 April 1942. His leadership maintained high morale and operational effectiveness despite harsh conditions, long-range missions, and increasing Soviet resistance. This sustained record of personal success and unit achievement earned him the Schwerter on 24 April 1942 as the 9th recipient, presented by Hitler at the Wolfsschanze.

Later in the war Ihlefeld commanded JG 52 briefly, established the specialized high-altitude unit JG 25 to counter RAF Mosquito raids, served with JG 11, and from May 1944 led JG 1 Oesau through the desperate defense of the Reich and the failed Operation Bodenplatte on 1 January 1945, where he was himself forced down by flak near Rotterdam. In the final months he oversaw conversion training onto the He 162 jet fighter before surrendering his wing in May 1945. After the war he lived quietly as a civilian pilot, meeting one of his former RAF opponents in 1984, and passed away in 1995 at the age of 81.



Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Ihlefeld
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/23472/Ihlefeld-Herbert-Jagdgeschwader-77.htm
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/I/IhlefeldH.htm
https://rk.balsi.de/index.php?action=list&cat=300
https://www.ww2.dk/lwoffz.html
https://forum.axishistory.com/
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/
https://aircrewremembered.com/KrackerDatabase/?q=units
https://grokipedia.com/
https://web.archive.org/web/20091027052912fw_/http://geocities.com/orion47.geo/index2.html
Obermaier, Ernst. Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe 1939-1945. Band I Jagdflieger. Mainz: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann, 1989.
Prien, Jochen. Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945. Teil 1-14. Eutin: Struve-Druck, various years.
Stockert, Peter. Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945. Band 4. Osnabrück: Biblio-Verlag, 2012.
Spick, Mike. Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books, 1996.
Forsyth, Robert. Luftwaffe in the Spanish Civil War. Hersham: Ian Allan, 2011.
Mathews, Andrew and John Foreman. Luftwaffe Aces - Biographies and Victory Claims. Walton on Thames: Red Kite, 2015.

Bio of Oberstleutnant Hans Philipp (1917-1943)

Full name: Johannes "Hans" Fritz Philipp
Nickname: Phips

Date of Birth: 17.03.1917 - Meißen, Kingdom of Saxony (German Empire)
Date of Death: 08.10.1943 - near Neuenhaus, Lower Saxony (Germany)

Battles and Operations: Polish Campaign, Battle of France, Battle of Britain, Balkans Campaign, Operation Barbarossa, Eastern Front operations 1941-1943, Defense of the Reich

NSDAP-Number: No information
Religion: No information
Parents: Alma Philipp (unmarried mother) and Leopold Gushurst (physician, biological father who provided alimony)
Siblings: none (only child)
Spouse: none (engaged to Katharina Egger, met in Italy in 1939)
Children: none

Promotions:
April 6th, 1936 Fahnenjunker
January 1st, 1938 Leutnant
June 1st, 1940 Oberleutnant
November 18th, 1941 Hauptmann
March 1943 Major
October 1st, 1943 Oberstleutnant

Career:
1936 joined the Luftwaffe as officer candidate, completed flight training at Luftkriegsschule 2 in Gatow
1937 received Pilot's Badge
1938 assigned to I./JG 76 (formerly I./JG 138)
May 1939 unit redesignated I./JG 76
September 1939 participated in Polish Campaign with first victory on September 5th
1940 Battle of France and Battle of Britain, appointed Staffelkapitän of 4./JG 54
April 1941 Balkans Campaign
June 1941 onward Operation Barbarossa and Eastern Front with JG 54
February 17th, 1942 appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 54
April 1st, 1943 appointed Geschwaderkommodore of JG 1 "Oesau" for Defense of the Reich duties
October 1943 killed in action while leading JG 1 against USAAF raid on Bremen

Awards and Decorations:
Iron Cross 2nd Class October 10th, 1939 (after first victory in Poland)
Iron Cross 1st Class May 31st, 1940 (after four victories in Battle of France)
Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe September 28th, 1940 (after 15th victory)
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on October 22nd, 1940 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of 4./JG 54 (150th Luftwaffe award) after achieving his 20th aerial victory during the Battle of Britain. Key actions included intense dogfights over southern England where he flew over 130 combat missions in 1940, scoring multiple kills in single sorties such as on September 27th when he claimed several RAF fighters in one engagement, pushing his total to the threshold that demonstrated exceptional leadership and combat skill as a Staffel leader in JG 54 "Grünherz".
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub on August 24th, 1941 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of 4./JG 54 (33rd award) after his 62nd aerial victory on the Eastern Front. This came during the opening phases of Operation Barbarossa where his unit operated from bases in occupied Poland and the Baltic region. On July 4th, 1941 alone he claimed three Soviet aircraft (his 31st to 33rd), contributing to a rapid score buildup amid heavy air combat against VVS forces, with the 62nd victory sealed through aggressive low-level interceptions and escort missions that protected German ground advances.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern on March 12th, 1942 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 54 (8th Swords award) after his 86th aerial victory claimed that same day. As the first pilot in JG 54 to receive the Swords, this recognized his leadership in commanding the Gruppe during the intense winter and spring fighting on the Eastern Front, including multiple multi-kill days that elevated his personal tally while directing successful operations against numerically superior Soviet air formations.
German Cross in Gold June 18th, 1942
Croatian Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir 2nd Class with Swords September 15th, 1942
Front Flying Clasp in Gold with Pennant October 4th, 1942 (earlier version May 19th, 1941)
Wound Badge in Black (for injuries sustained in aerial combat)
Combined Pilots-Observation Badge
Mentioned in Wehrmachtbericht five times (July 7th, 1941 for triple victory on July 4th; June 7th and 27th, 1942 for multi-kill days reaching 101-103 and 108-110; March 18th, 1943 for quadruple victory on March 17th reaching 203; October 12th, 1943 posthumous)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hans Philipp was born out of wedlock in modest circumstances in Meißen, Saxony, and raised primarily by his mother Alma. He attended local schools including the Pestalozzi-Schule and passed his Abitur at the Franziskaneum in 1935. As a youth he participated in the Hitler Youth gliding program, earning his A and B licenses and leading the local HJ-Fliegerschar. In April 1936 he volunteered for the Luftwaffe and trained as a fighter pilot. His early career included a brief dissatisfaction with routine training that nearly led him to civilian life, but he persisted and joined fighter units. 

During the Polish Campaign he opened his score with a PZL P.24 on September 5th, 1939. In the West he added victories over France and then excelled in the Battle of Britain, becoming Staffelkapitän and earning the Ritterkreuz. Transferred east in 1941, his victories mounted rapidly against the VVS. He reached 100 on March 31st, 1942 (fourth Luftwaffe pilot to do so), 150 on January 14th, 1943, and on March 17th, 1943 claimed four in one day to hit 203, briefly becoming the Luftwaffe's top scorer ahead of Hermann Graf. In April 1943 he took command of JG 1 in the West for Reich defense against growing USAAF daylight raids, a role he found far more stressful than Eastern Front fighting.

On October 8th, 1943, while intercepting a raid on Bremen, his Fw 190 was hit (likely by a P-47 Thunderbolt). He bailed out at low altitude near Wielen/Neuenhaus but his parachute failed to deploy fully from about 50 meters, leading to his death. His body was recovered and returned to Meißen for burial at Trinitatis Cemetery on October 14th, 1943, with full military honors. A letter he wrote days earlier to Hannes Trautloft expressed the psychological toll of facing massed bomber formations: "Against 20 Russians trying to shoot you down, or even 20 Spitfires, it can be exciting, even fun. But to curve in towards 40 Fortresses and all your past sins flash before your eyes."

Unique and interesting facts include that Philipp was one of the earliest Luftwaffe pilots to exceed 200 victories, achieved this milestone while leading from the front as a Gruppen- and later Geschwaderkommodore, and left a final radio call of "Reinhardt, attack!" to his wingman before being hit. He also appeared in propaganda events back home in Meißen to boost morale.

Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Philipp
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Philipp_(Jagdflieger)
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/1132/Philipp-Hans-Jagdgeschwader-54.htm
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/P/PhilippH.htm
https://rk.balsi.de/index.php?action=list&cat=300
https://grokipedia.com/page/hans_philipp
https://aircrewremembered.com/KrackerDatabase/?q=units
https://www.ww2.dk/lwoffz.html
https://forum.axishistory.com/
Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer: Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945, Podzun-Pallas Verlag, 2000
Scherzer, Veit: Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939-1945, Scherzers Militaer-Verlag, 2007
https://www.bundesarchiv.de/en/
https://www.geni.com/
https://books.google.com/ (various Luftwaffe ace references)
https://web.archive.org/web/20091027052912fw_/http://geocities.com/orion47.geo/index2.html
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/
https://www.unithistories.com/units_index/index.php?file=/officers/personsx.html

Bio of Oberstleutnant Heinrich Bär (1913-1957)

Full name: Oskar-Heinrich Bär
Nickname: Pritzl

Date of Birth: 25 May 1913 - Sommerfeld, Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire
Date of Death: 28 April 1957 - near Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, West Germany

Battles and Operations: Polish Campaign, Western Campaign, Battle of Britain, Operation Barbarossa, Eastern Front operations 1941-1942, Mediterranean Theatre including Malta, North African Campaign and Tunisia, Defence of the Reich, Western Front 1943-1945 including Operation Bodenplatte

NSDAP-Number: No information
SS-Number: No information
Religion: No information
Parents: Father (farmer, name unknown, killed in action 1916 on the Western Front during World War I), Mother (name unknown, farmer)
Siblings: No information
Spouse: Elfriede Jäger (married 1 December 1939 in Mannheim)
Children: No information

Promotions:
4 April 1934 Gefreiter
1 October 1939 Feldwebel
1 August 1940 Leutnant (rank seniority dated 1 May 1940)
14 August 1941 Oberleutnant (rank seniority dated 1 August 1941)
1 December 1941 Hauptmann (rank seniority dated 1 September 1941)
1 March 1943 Major (rank seniority dated 1 September 1942)
1 January 1945 Oberstleutnant

Career:
1934 joined Reichswehr as mechanic with 3. Kompanie, Kraftfahrabteilung 4
1935 transferred to Luftwaffe, served initially as aircraft mechanic then trained as transport pilot
1 September 1938 posted to I./Jagdgeschwader 135 (redesignated I./JG 51 in May 1939) initially flying Ju 86 transports before fighter conversion
1939-1940 fighter pilot with 1./JG 51 participating in Polish Campaign, Battle of France and Battle of Britain
20 July 1941 Staffelkapitän of 12./JG 51 on Eastern Front
January 1942 Gruppenkommandeur of IV./JG 51
11 May 1942 Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 77
1943 various staff and training roles including JGr Süd after temporary relief from command
15 March 1944 Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 1
June 1944 Geschwaderkommodore of JG 3 "Udet"
14 February 1945 transferred to III./EJG 2 for jet training
23 April 1945 transferred to JV 44, assumed command 26 April 1945

Awards and Decorations:
Iron Cross 2nd Class (29 September 1939)
Iron Cross 1st Class (6 July 1940)
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 2 July 1941 as pilot and Leutnant in the 1./JG 51
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #31 on 14 August 1941 as Leutnant and pilot in the 1./JG 51
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern #7 on 16 February 1942 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of the 1./JG 51
German Cross in Gold (27 May 1942)
Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (8 June 1942)
Combined Pilots-Observation Badge in Gold with Diamonds
Wound Badge in Silver
Frontflugspange for Fighters in Gold with pendant and "1000" numeral
Africa Cuff Title
Mentioned three times in the Wehrmachtbericht (12 February 1942, 20 May 1942, 24 April 1944)

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Oskar-Heinrich "Pritzl" Bär was born on 25 May 1913 in the small Saxon village of Sommerfeld to farming parents. His father was killed in action on the Western Front in 1916 during World War I, leaving his mother to raise the family amid the hardships of the postwar years. Bär attended local Volksschule, helped on the family farm in Engelsdorf and studied agriculture in Wurzen, but his true passion emerged early when he joined a glider club at age 15 and began flying from the Schwarzer Berg near Taucha. Inspired by a Junkers transport aircraft, he dreamed of becoming a civilian airline pilot with Deutsche Luft Hansa, yet the economic constraints of the Great Depression blocked the path to the required licenses. In late 1933 he volunteered for the Reichswehr, serving as a mechanic, before transferring to the newly formed Luftwaffe in summer 1935 where he continued in ground roles before pilot training on transports and informal fighter instruction. He completed advanced training including blind flying and earned his C-certificate by mid-1938, arriving at I./JG 135 (soon JG 51) in September 1938. His commanding officer recognised his natural talent after an unauthorised aerobatic display in a Ju 86 led to an engine failure, and Bär transitioned fully to fighters.

Bär flew his first combat sorties in the Polish Campaign of 1939, claiming his initial victory on 25 September against a Curtiss Hawk 75 near the French border during the Phoney War. He added two more during the Battle of France in May-June 1940 and reached 17 victories by the end of the Battle of Britain in 1940-early 1941 while serving with 1./JG 51, earning the Iron Cross 2nd Class in September 1939 and 1st Class in July 1940 along with promotion to Feldwebel and then Leutnant. Transferred east for Operation Barbarossa in June 1941, Bär exploded onto the scene against the Soviet Air Force. In the opening phase of the invasion, operating in intense air combat over advancing German ground forces, he claimed 27 victories within roughly two weeks through aggressive low-level and high-altitude engagements against a mix of fighters, bombers and ground-attack aircraft. These rapid successes, achieved while flying the Bf 109 and demonstrating superior marksmanship and situational awareness despite the vast front and numerical Soviet superiority, directly led to the award of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 2 July 1941 as Leutnant and pilot in 1./JG 51. Promotion to Oberleutnant followed on 14 August.

Bär continued his scoring pace through July and early August 1941 on the central sector of the Eastern Front, often flying multiple sorties daily in support of Army Group Centre operations toward Smolensk and beyond. By mid-August his total reached 60 confirmed aerial victories, including several multi-claim days against VVS units equipped with I-16s, MiG-3s and SB bombers. This sustained performance, marked by his ability to engage larger formations and return with multiple kills while protecting his own formation, earned him the Eichenlaub to the Knight's Cross on 14 August 1941 as the 31st recipient overall. Later that month on 30 August he achieved ace-in-a-day status with six Soviet aircraft downed in a single mission, further underscoring his exceptional combat effectiveness during the summer offensive phase.

In late 1941 and early 1942, despite the brutal Russian winter, supply difficulties and increasing Soviet resistance during the Moscow counteroffensive, Bär assumed leadership roles, becoming Staffelkapitän of 12./JG 51 and later elements of IV./JG 51. He adapted to harsh conditions, continued offensive and escort missions, and pushed his score steadily higher through determined hunting of Soviet fighters and ground-attack types. By mid-February 1942 he had accumulated 90 victories, a milestone reached amid defensive fighting and limited opportunities. His leadership in maintaining high morale and operational tempo for his unit, combined with personal claims that included key victories over modern Soviet types during critical phases of the winter battles, resulted in the Schwerter to the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves on 16 February 1942 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of 1./JG 51, making him the 7th Luftwaffe recipient of the Swords. He was mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht the same period.

Bär transferred to I./JG 77 in May 1942 as Gruppenkommandeur, moving with the unit to the Mediterranean in June for operations over Malta, Sicily and then North Africa and Tunisia, where he added dozens more victories including against RAF Spitfires, Hurricanes and US types. He received the German Cross in Gold and Honor Goblet in 1942. Later assignments included defensive roles over France and Germany with JG 1 and command of JG 3 "Udet" in 1944, during which he transitioned to the Me 262 jet fighter in 1945 with JV 44 under Adolf Galland, claiming 16 of his final victories in the revolutionary aircraft. Overall Bär flew more than 1,000 combat sorties, was shot down 18 times, wounded three times and credited with 220 (or up to 221-228 depending on source) aerial victories, with 96 on the Eastern Front and the remainder primarily on the Western and Mediterranean theatres, including at least 21 four-engined bombers and 16 in the Me 262. He never received the Diamonds despite the total, reportedly denied three times by Reichsmarschall Göring due to personal animosity over Bär's outspoken nature and Upper Saxon dialect.

After the German surrender Bär did not return to his Saxon homeland. He settled in Braunschweig, worked as a consultant and test pilot in the emerging West German sports aviation scene, and served as a leading figure in the Deutscher Aero Club for powered flight. On 28 April 1957, while conducting a routine test flight in a light LF-1 Zaunkönig aircraft near Braunschweig, the machine entered a flat spin at low altitude from which he could not recover, resulting in his death at age 43. Bär remains remembered as one of the most versatile and successful Luftwaffe aces, effective on every front and aircraft type he flew, noted by comrades for his honesty, tactical skill and disregard for authority.



Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinrich_Bär
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/1131/Bär-Heinrich-Pritzel-Heinz.htm
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/B/BarH.htm
https://rk.balsi.de/index.php?action=list&cat=300
https://grokipedia.com/page/Heinrich_Bär
https://aircrewremembered.com/KrackerDatabase/?q=units
https://www.ww2.dk/lwoffz.html
https://forum.axishistory.com/
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/
https://www.bundesarchiv.de/en/
https://www.geni.com/
https://www.unithistories.com/units_index/index.php?file=/officers/personsx.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20091027052912fw_/http://geocities.com/orion47.geo/index2.html
Spick, Mike. Luftwaffe Fighter Aces: The Luftwaffe's Greatest Fighter Pilots of World War II (1996)
Obermaier, Ernst. Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe 1939-1945, Band I: Jagdflieger (various editions)
Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945 (2000)
Morgan, Hugh & Weal, John. German Aces of World War 2 (1998)
Aders, Gebhard & Held, Werner. Stuka Pilot Hans-Ulrich Rudel and Other Biographies (related Luftwaffe ace compilations)
Zabecki, David T. (editor). World War II in Europe: An Encyclopedia (entries on Luftwaffe aces)

Bio of Fregattenkapitän Otto Kretschmer (1912-1998)

Full name: Otto Wilhelm August Kretschmer  
Nickname: Silent Otto
  
Date of Birth: 01.05.1912 - Heidenau bei Neisse, Schlesien (German Empire)  
Date of Death: 05.08.1998 - Straubing, Bayern (Germany)  

Battles and Operations: Spanish Civil War (non-intervention patrol), North Sea operations and mine-laying, Battle of the Atlantic, attacks on Convoys HX 72, SC 7 and HX 112  

NSDAP-Number: No information  
SS-Number: No information  
Religion: No information  
Parents: Friedrich Wilhelm Otto Kretschmer, Alice Johanna Luise Herbig  
Siblings: No information  
Spouse: 1948 Dr. Luise-Charlotte Mohnsen-Hinrichs (née Bruns)  
Children: No information  

Promotions:  
01.04.1930 Offiziersanwärter  
10.10.1930 Seekadett  
01.01.1932 Fähnrich zur See  
01.04.1934 Oberfähnrich zur See  
01.10.1934 Leutnant zur See  
01.06.1936 Oberleutnant zur See  
01.06.1939 Kapitänleutnant  
01.03.1941 Korvettenkapitän  
01.09.1944 Fregattenkapitän  
12.12.1958 Kapitän zur See  
00.00.1970 Flottillenadmiral (Bundesmarine retirement)  

Career:  
00.00.1918-00.00.1921 Volkschule Heidenau  
00.00.1921-00.00.1929 Realgymnasium  
00.00.1929-00.04.1930 University of Exeter, England  
01.04.1930 entered Reichsmarine as officer candidate, basic training Stralsund  
01.07.1930-09.10.1930 training ship Niobe  
10.10.1930-04.01.1932 light cruiser Emden (world cruise)  
1933-1935 service and training on pocket battleship Deutschland and light cruiser Köln with various gunnery, torpedo and navigation courses  
01.1936 transferred to U-boat service after submariner training  
31.07.1937-15.08.1937 interim commander and watch officer U-35 during Spanish Civil War non-intervention patrol in Bay of Biscay  
01.10.1937-01.04.1940 commander U-23 (eight patrols, 97 days at sea)  
18.04.1940-17.03.1941 commander U-99 (eight patrols, 127 days at sea)  
17.03.1941 scuttled U-99 after depth-charge damage by HMS Walker during attack on Convoy HX 112 southeast of Iceland, captured with most of crew  
17.03.1941-31.12.1947 prisoner of war in British and Canadian camps (Grizedale Hall, Bowmanville)  
01.12.1955 joined Bundesmarine as Fregattenkapitän  
03.01.1957-15.10.1957 commander 1. Geleitgeschwader  
1958 commander Amphibische Streitkräfte  
1962-1964 staff positions in naval tactics and training, NATO Defence College Paris  
05.1965-1969 Chief of Staff, Allied Naval Forces Baltic Approaches (COMNAVBALTAP)  
09.1970 retired as Flottillenadmiral  

Awards and Decorations:  
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse 17.10.1939  
U-Boot-Kriegsabzeichen 09.11.1939  
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse 17.12.1939  
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 04.08.1940 as Kapitänleutnant and Kommandant U 99 - for his successes as a U-Boat commander. While commanding U-23 he sunk 8 ships with 24899 GRT (including the British destroyer HMS Daring on 18 February 1940 east of Pentland Firth with a single surfaced torpedo). Over the course of three more war patrols with U-99 he sunk a further 9 ships with 49704 GRT, damaged 3 with 25545 GRT, and captured 1 more with 2136 GRT.  
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub on 04.11.1940 as Kapitänleutnant and Kommandant U 99 (6th recipient overall) - for sinking another 15 ships with 65654 GRT and damaging 1 more with 3106 GRT over the course of three patrols with U-99, most notably the destruction of three British armed merchant cruisers Laurentic (18724 GRT), Patroclus (11314 GRT) and Forfar (16402 GRT) in November-December 1940 for a total exceeding 46000 tons in one extended operation.  
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern on 26.12.1941 as Korvettenkapitän and Kommandant U 99 (5th recipient overall) - for his successes on his last two war patrols with U-99. In this time he sank the British auxiliary cruiser HMS Forfar (with 16402 GRT) and another 13 ships with 79000 GRT, furthermore damaging 1 more ship with 9314 GRT, bringing his career total to 47 ships for 274333 GRT and establishing him as the undisputed top U-boat tonnage ace of the war.  
U-Boot-Kriegsabzeichen mit Brillanten (date not specified, awarded with higher decorations)  

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Otto Wilhelm August Kretschmer, universally known as Silent Otto for his mastery of stealth, minimal radio traffic and silent-running tactics, emerged as the most successful U-boat commander of the Second World War despite a combat career lasting only eighteen months. Born the son of a Silesian schoolmaster, he developed a cool, analytical approach to submarine warfare after pre-war training cruises and early experience in Spanish waters. Commanding first the small Type II U-23 and then the Type VIIB U-99 he perfected night surface attacks from inside Allied convoys, striking at close range with the motto one torpedo one ship and achieving a remarkable hit rate of nearly seventy percent. The Ritterkreuz recognised his early sinkings with U-23, capped by the destruction of the destroyer HMS Daring, and initial victories with U-99 including the capture of the Estonian prize Merisaar. The Eichenlaub arrived immediately after his spectacular November 1940 patrol in which he penetrated defended formations to torpedo the three large armed merchant cruisers Laurentic, Patroclus and Forfar in rapid succession, elevating him to the position of tonnage king that no other commander ever surpassed. While already a prisoner after U-99 was crippled by depth charges from HMS Walker and Vanoc during the chaotic night action against Convoy HX 112 on 16-17 March 1941, he received the Schwerter in December 1941 for the cumulative record of his final patrols. In captivity he upheld the traditions of the German officer corps, presiding over courts of honour and resisting attempts to shackle prisoners. Repatriated at the end of 1947, he rebuilt his life in the Federal Republic, re-entering naval service in 1955 and rising through escort, amphibious and NATO staff appointments to retire as Flottillenadmiral in 1970. He died at Straubing in 1998 at the age of eighty-six from head injuries sustained in a boating accident on the Danube while celebrating his golden wedding anniversary. 

In the high-stakes world of World War II submarine warfare, Otto Kretschmer wasn't just another U-boat commander—il was the most successful one of the entire war. The nickname "Silent Otto" (der schweigsame Otto) wasn't just a catchy label; it was a perfect summary of his tactical philosophy and his personality.

Here is why he earned the moniker:

Tactical Stealth: "One Torpedo, One Ship". Kretschmer revolutionized U-boat tactics. While other commanders preferred to fire salvos from a distance, Kretschmer’s signature move was to surface at night and slip inside the defensive perimeter of a convoy.

The Approach: He would maneuver his U-99 silently on the surface between columns of merchant ships.

The Ambush: By staying low and keeping his engines quiet, he became nearly invisible to the primitive radar and sonar (ASDIC) of the time.

The Efficiency: He famously used a "one torpedo, one ship" rule, rarely missing his mark. His ability to strike and vanish without a sound earned him a reputation for ghostly efficiency.

Radio Silence: Kretschmer was a firm believer in strict radio silence. In an era where many commanders would broadcast long reports or even taunts back to headquarters, Kretschmer stayed off the airwaves as much as possible. He knew that British direction-finding equipment could triangulate a U-boat’s position the moment they hit the "transmit" button. By staying quiet, he stayed hidden.

His Personal Demeanor: Beyond his combat style, the nickname stuck because of his reserved and stoic personality. He was described as a quiet, professional, and somewhat unreadable officer. He didn't seek the limelight or engage in the boisterous "war hero" persona that some of his peers adopted. Even when he was eventually captured in 1941, he maintained a dignified, silent composure that impressed his British captors. Despite his lethality, Kretschmer was known for his humanity; he often provided lifeboats with supplies or directions to the nearest land after sinking their ships.



Source:  
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/  
https://en.wikipedia.org/  
https://www.tracesofwar.com/  
https://grokipedia.com/  
https://rk.balsi.de/index.php?action=list&cat=300  
https://www.unithistories.com/units_index/index.php?file=/officers/personsx.html  
https://web.archive.org/web/20091027052912fw_/http://geocities.com/orion47.geo/index2.html  
https://forum.axishistory.com/  
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/  
https://www.bundesarchiv.de/en/  
https://www.geni.com/  
https://books.google.com/  
https://uboat.net/  
https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.de/  
Lawrence Paterson, Otto Kretschmer: The Life of Germany's Highest Scoring U-boat Commander, Seaforth Publishing, 2018  
Terence Robertson, The Golden Horseshoe: The Wartime Career of Otto Kretschmer, U-Boat Ace, Bantam, 1957  
David Childs obituary in The Independent, 25 August 1998

Bio of Oberst Günther Lützow (1912-1945)

Günther Friedrich Lützow. He is most commonly referred to simply as Günther Lützow in historical records, Wikipedia, and military biographies (with the umlaut on the "u" in Lützow). Some detailed sources, such as ww2gravestone.com and certain Luftwaffe ace databases, explicitly list his middle name as Friedrich, which aligns with his naval family background (his father was Admiral Friedrich Lütz

Nickname: He was widely known by his nickname "Franzl" (or sometimes "Franz") among fellow pilots and in contemporary accounts

Date of Birth: 04.09.1912 - Kiel, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire  
Date of Death: 24.04.1945 - near Donauwörth/Schrobenhausen, Bavaria, Nazi Germany (missing in action)  

Battles and Operations: Spanish Civil War, Battle of France, Battle of Britain, Operation Barbarossa, Eastern Front, Italian Front, Defense of the Reich  

NSDAP-Number: No information  
SS-Number: No information  
Religion: No information  
Parents: Father Friedrich Lützow (naval officer), Mother Hildegard née Kinzel  
Siblings: Werner (older brother, Korvettenkapitän KIA 24.11.1943), Liselotte (older sister), Hildegard (younger sister), Joachim (younger brother)  
Spouse: Gisela von Priesdorff (married 11.03.1939 in Berlin)  
Children: Hans-Ulrich (born 29.01.1940), Carola (born 31.08.1942)

Promotions:
01.10.1934 Leutnant  
00.00.1937 Oberleutnant  
20.11.1937 Hauptmann  
30.08.1940 Major  
00.00.1942 Oberstleutnant  
01.04.1943 Oberst

Career:
00.00.1912-03.03.1931 school education in Kiel, Abitur at Stiftische Landesschule zur Pforta on 03.03.1931  
07.04.1931-19.02.1932 pilot training at Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule Schleißheim  
1932 secret pilot training in Lipetsk, Soviet Union  
15.10.1932-31.03.1933 Offizieranwärter with 5. (Preußisches) Infanterie-Regiment in Stettin  
00.00.1933-00.00.1934 Kriegsschule Dresden  
01.10.1934 transferred to emerging Luftwaffe  
08.03.1935-31.03.1936 fighter pilot instructor at Schleißheim  
01.04.1936-03.11.1936 II. Gruppe Sturzkampfgeschwader 162 and Staffeloffizier 4./Jagdgeschwader 132 Richthofen at Jüterbog-Damm  
19.03.1937-15.09.1937 Staffelkapitän 2./Jagdgruppe 88 Condor Legion in Spanish Civil War  
16.10.1937 Reichsluftfahrtministerium Sonderstab W  
01.11.1938-31.10.1939 head flight instructor and Lehrgangsleiter at Jagdfliegerschule 1 Werneuchen  
03.11.1939 Gruppenkommandeur I./Jagdgeschwader 3  
25.08.1940 Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 3  
September-November 1941 acting Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 51  
11.08.1942 Inspector of Day Fighters East on staff of General der Jagdflieger Adolf Galland  
July 1943 Inspector of Day Fighters Italian Front based in Naples  
September 1943-March 1944 Kommandeur 1. Jagd-Division at Döberitz  
01.11.1944 brief command of 4. Flieger-Schuldivision  
April 1945 adjutant to Adolf Galland in Jagdverband 44 equipped with Me 262

Awards and Decorations:
Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwertern und Brillanten (06.06.1939)  
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (26.05.1940)  
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse (03.06.1940)  
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (18.09.1940, 120. Verleihung) as Major and Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 3 for outstanding leadership and 15 aerial victories during the Battle of Britain including multiple RAF fighters downed while protecting bomber formations and conducting fighter sweeps over southern England  
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub (20.07.1941, 27. Verleihung) as Major and Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 3 for exceptional combat success on the Eastern Front reaching his 42nd aerial victory on that day by downing two V-11s during intense air battles supporting Army Group Center advances in the opening phases of Operation Barbarossa  
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern (11.10.1941, 4. Verleihung) as Major and Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 3 for continued brilliance in aerial combat on the Eastern Front accumulating 92 victories since September 1939 including 29 claims in October 1941 alone with five bombers destroyed on a single day 08.10.1941 during heavy fighting around key Soviet positions  
Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant 300  
Combined Pilots-Observation Badge in Gold with Diamonds  
Wound Badge in Black  
Mentioned in Wehrmachtbericht (25.10.1941 for 101st victory)  
Spanish Medalla de la Campaña  
Spanish Medalla Militar Individual

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Günther Lützow, affectionately called Franzl by his fellow pilots, was a highly skilled and respected Luftwaffe fighter ace and commander who flew more than 300 combat sorties and achieved 110 confirmed aerial victories including five during the Spanish Civil War. Born into a naval family in Kiel he volunteered for the Reichswehr in 1931 and underwent secret pilot training before transferring to the newly revealed Luftwaffe where he quickly became an instructor and then a Condor Legion volunteer scoring the first Bf 109 victory in Spain. In World War II he led I./JG 3 through the French campaign with nine kills then took command of the full Geschwader during the Battle of Britain earning the Ritterkreuz after fifteen victories over the RAF. On the Eastern Front in 1941 his unit achieved spectacular success under his leadership pushing his personal score rapidly to over ninety which brought the Oak Leaves and shortly afterward the Swords. Later staff and divisional roles followed but differences with higher command over operational decisions and his participation in the Fighter Pilots Revolt against Hermann Göring in January 1945 led to his temporary exile to Italy. Undeterred he volunteered for the elite Jagdverband 44 flying the Me 262 jet fighter and on 24 April 1945 he intercepted a formation of USAAF B-26 Marauders near Donauwörth claiming one before disappearing in combat his aircraft believed to have crashed into the Danube River with his body never recovered. Lützow remains one of the most accomplished early aces whose leadership and courage exemplified the Luftwaffe fighter force in the first years of the war.



Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Günther_Lützow  
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/1129/L%C3%BCtzow-G%C3%BCnther-Franzl.htm  
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/  
https://grokipedia.com/page/G%C3%BCnther_L%C3%BCtzow  
https://rk.balsi.de/  
https://www.ww2.dk/lwoffz.html  
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BCnther_L%C3%BCtzow  
Braatz, Kurt. Gott oder ein Flugzeug - Leben und Sterben des Jagdfliegers Günther Lützow. Moosburg: NeunundzwanzigSechs Verlag, 2005.  
Obermaier, Ernst. Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939-1945. Mainz: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann, 1989.  
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard. Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" in WWII. Atglen: Schiffer Publishing, 2002.  
Scherzer, Veit. Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939-1945. Jena: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag, 2007.  
Additional cross-referenced data from https://forum.axishistory.com/, https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/, https://www.bundesarchiv.de/en/, https://www.geni.com/, books.google.com, and aircrewremembered.com Kracker Database.