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)

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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)

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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 Lützow

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.

Bio of Oberst Walter Oesau (1913-1944)

Full name: Walter Oesau (While many German military figures of the era had multiple middle names, official records (including his birth registration in Meldorf and his military personnel files) consistently identify him simply as Walter Oesau)

Nickname: Gulle

Date of Birth: 28.06.1913 - Farnewinkel, Meldorf, Schleswig-Holstein (German Empire)  
Date of Death: 11.05.1944 - St. Vith, Liège (Belgium)  

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

NSDAP-Number: not listed
SS-Number: not listed
Religion : No information
Parents: Father: Richard Oesau. He was a master glazier (Glaser-Meister) by trade in the town of Meldorf. Mother: Anna Oesau (née Söth)  
Siblings: Brother: Name not publicly specified in major military biographies, though he is noted to have survived his brother. Sister: Name not publicly specified.  
Spouse: Edith Oesau (née von Karstenn). They were married in 1939. Edith was the daughter of a high-ranking forestry official. Following Walter's death in 1944, she remained a widow for several years before eventually remarrying. 
Children: One daughter. Information on his daughter remains private in most historical archives to protect the family's privacy, though she was a young child at the time of his father's death in May 1944.  

Promotions:  
00.10.1933 Enlisted soldier
00.00.1934 Fahnenjunker
20.04.1937 Leutnant
15.07.1939 Oberleutnant
19.07.1940 Hauptmann
20.07.1941 Major
01.02.1943 Oberstleutnant
01.05.1944 Oberst (posthumous promotion)

Career:  
Walter Oesau was born on 28 June 1913 in Farnewinkel near Meldorf in the Dithmarschen region of Holstein, Germany. His father was a bank director. He completed his Abitur and served in the Reichsarbeitsdienst before joining the German Army (Heer) in October 1933 with Artillerie-Regiment 2. In 1936 he transferred to the Luftwaffe, undergoing flight training at the Verkehrsfliegerschule in Hanover and later joining Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen". He was promoted to Leutnant on 20 April 1937.

In April 1938 Oesau volunteered for the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War, serving with 3./Jagdgruppe 88. Over approximately 130 combat missions he claimed nine aerial victories against Republican aircraft, including Polikarpov I-15 and I-16 fighters as well as SB-2 bombers. He was wounded during operations and received the Spanish Wound Badge. For his performance he was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds (one of only 27-28 such awards), along with the Spanish Medalla de la Campaña and Medalla Militar.

Returning to Germany in early 1939, Oesau rejoined JG 2 as Oberleutnant. At the start of World War II he served with Jagdgeschwader 20 (redesignated III./Jagdgeschwader 51), participating in the invasion of Poland but without claims there. Flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109, his first Western Front victory came on 13 May 1940 with a Curtiss P-36 Hawk over Halsteren during the campaign in the Netherlands. He added more during the Battle of France, including three Spitfires on 31 May northwest of Dunkirk, a Bristol Blenheim on 1 June, and an Amiot 143 on 13 June. He received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 15 May 1940 and 1st Class on 20 May 1940. During the Battle of Britain, as Staffelkapitän of 7./JG 51, he claimed multiple Spitfires and other types. On 18 August 1940 he reached his 20th victory (a Hurricane), earning the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 20 August 1940 as the 102nd recipient and the first in JG 51. The citation highlighted his distinction as a fighter pilot with 20 enemy aircraft downed, ceaseless readiness, and brave disposition. Promoted to Hauptmann on 19 July 1940, he became Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 51 on 24 August 1940. By late October 1940 his score stood at around 48, including many Spitfires, and he received a Wehrmachtbericht mention on 6 September 1940.

On 10 November 1940 Oesau took command of III./JG 3. He continued scoring over the Channel, downing a Hurricane on 5 February 1941 for his 40th victory, which brought the Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub on 6 February 1941 (9th award) as the fourth Luftwaffe pilot to reach 40 victories, with a second Wehrmachtbericht mention. In May 1941 he added two more.

With Operation Barbarossa on 22 June 1941, III./JG 3 supported Army Group South. Oesau claimed his first Soviet aircraft on 24 June (a MiG-1/I-18). His tally rose rapidly: to 60 by 30 June, including an SB-2. On 10 July he claimed five victories, followed by two more by 11 July, and seven in a single sortie on 12 July (MiG-1, Pe-2, I-153, I-16, Il-2, SB-2 types). By 15 July 1941 he achieved his 80th overall victory (an Ilyushin DB-3 bomber), with 44 on the Eastern Front in five weeks. These exceptional successes, featuring multiple high-scoring days and effective leadership against intense Soviet opposition, led to the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern on 15 July 1941 (3rd award of Swords overall). The actions involved rapid accumulation to 80 victories, including seven in one mission amid heavy fighting. He received a third Wehrmachtbericht mention. During this period he was wounded by splinters to the face and knee.

Oesau returned west to command Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" from 4 July 1941, succeeding Wilhelm Balthasar. He reached his 100th victory (a Spitfire) on 26 October 1941, becoming the third Luftwaffe pilot to do so and earning a fourth Wehrmachtbericht entry on 27 October 1941. JG 2 transitioned to Focke-Wulf Fw 190s in 1942. After 100 victories he was temporarily grounded for his value as an experienced leader but flew occasionally, claiming a Lancaster on 17 April 1942 during the Augsburg raid (his 101st). He received the Combined Pilots-Observation Badge in Gold and Diamonds on 17 October 1943 and the German Cross in Gold on 10 January 1944. Promoted to Oberstleutnant on 1 February 1943, he served as Jagdfliegerführer Bretagne from 1 July 1943.

From 12 November 1943 Oesau commanded Jagdgeschwader 1, focusing on Reich defense against Allied four-engine bombers. He claimed 14 heavy bombers (B-17s and B-24s) in 1943-1944, such as a B-24 on 5 January 1944 and B-17s on 30 January, 22 February, and 24 February 1944. His total victories reached 127 (nine in Spain, 44 on the Eastern Front, 74 on the Western Front, including 13-14 four-engine bombers) over about 300 missions.

Despite suffering from influenza, Oesau led a mission on 11 May 1944 from Paderborn against US bombers. Flying a Bf 109 G-6/AS marked "Green 13," he engaged escorting fighters (likely P-38 Lightnings from the 474th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force) near St. Vith in the Ardennes. After a prolonged dogfight his aircraft was damaged, and during an attempted emergency landing about 10 km southwest of St. Vith it was hit again in the cockpit area by gunfire, crashing fatally. He was 30 years old. US pilots credited with the victory included Lt. James Leslie Doyle. Oesau was posthumously promoted to Oberst on 1 May 1944. In his honor, JG 1 was later titled "Oesau."

Awards and Decorations:
Spanish Medalla de la Campaña
Spanish Medalla Militar
Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds
Iron Cross 2nd Class (15 May 1940)
Iron Cross 1st Class (20 May 1940)
Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold for fighter pilots with pennant "300"
Wound Badge (1939) in Black
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 20 August 1940 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of the 7./Jagdgeschwader 51
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #9 on 6 February 1941 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 3
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern #3 on 15 July 1941 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 3
German Cross in Gold on 17 October 1943 as Oberstleutnant and Jagdfliegerführer 4


Source :
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Oesau)
Lexikon der Wehrmacht (lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/O/OesauW-R.htm)
Traces of War (tracesofwar.com/persons/1128/Oesau-Walter.htm)
Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. (various editions)
Scherzer, Veit. Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939-1945. Scherzers Militaer-Verlag, 2007.
Weal, John. Various Osprey titles on JG 51, JG 3, JG 2, JG 1, and Luftwaffe aces (1999-2006).
Prien et al. Jagdgeschwader histories (various volumes).
Mathews & Foreman. Luftwaffe Aces - Biographies and Victory Claims.
Axis History Forum discussions and related threads.
Wehrmacht Awards Forum archives.
Bundesarchiv records (via referenced citations)

List of 1 Goldenem Eichenlaubträger (Golden Oak Leaves Recipient)

Hans-Ulrich Rudel (2 July 1916 - 18 December 1982)
Ritterkreuz on 6 January 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän 9.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 (StG 2) / VIII. Fliegerkorps / Luftflotte 2
Eichenlaub #229 on 14 April 1943 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän 1.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 (StG 2) "Immelmann" / VIII.Fliegerkorps / Luftflotte 4
Schwerter #42 on 25 November 1943 as Hauptmann and Gruppenführer III.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 (StG 2) "Immelmann" / VIII.Fliegerkorps / Luftflotte 4
Brillanten #10 on 29 March 1944 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur III.Gruppe / Schlachtgeschwader 2 (SG 2) "Immelmann" / VIII.Fliegerkorps / Luftflotte 4
Goldenem Eichenlaub #1 on 29 December 1944 as Oberstleutnant and Geschwaderkommodore Schlachtgeschwader 2 (SG 2) "Immelmann" / I.Fliegerkorps / Luftflotte 4
Last rank: Oberst

Source :
Walter Frentz photo collection

List of 1 Grosskreuzträger (Grand Cross Recipient)

Hermann Wilhelm Göring (12 January 1893 - 15 October 1946)
Ritterkreuz on 30 September 1939 as Generalfeldmarschall and Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe
Großkreuz on 19 July 1940 as Generalfeldmarschall and Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe
Last rank: Reichsmarschall

Source :
https://web.archive.org/web/20091027052912fw_/http://geocities.com/orion47.geo/index2.html

Bio of Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (1893-1946)

Hermann Wilhelm Göring

Date of Birth: 12.01.1893 - Rosenheim, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire
Date of Death: 15.10.1946 - Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany

Battles and Operations: Western Front World War I, Polish Campaign 1939, Western Campaign 1940, Battle of Britain, Operation Barbarossa air support, Eastern Front operations 1941-1945, defense of the Reich

NSDAP membership: joined October 1922, Goldenes Ehrenzeichen der NSDAP
SS-Number: none
Religion: No information
Parents: Heinrich Ernst Göring (former cavalry officer and governor-general of German South West Africa) and Franziska Tiefenbrunn
Siblings: Karl Göring, Olga Göring, Paula Göring, Albert Göring
Spouse: Carin von Kantzow (married 03.02.1922, died 17.10.1931), Emmy Sonnemann (married 10.04.1935)
Children: Edda Göring (born 02.06.1938)

Promotions:
00.00.1912 Fahnenjunker, Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Wilhelm Nr. 112
00.00.1914 Leutnant
00.00.1917 Oberleutnant
30.01.1933 General der Infanterie
01.04.1935 General der Flieger
01.02.1938 Generalfeldmarschall
19.07.1940 Reichsmarschall

Career:
00.00.1900-00.00.1911 various schools and cadet training, Haupt-Kadettenanstalt Berlin-Lichterfelde
00.00.1912 joined Prussian Army, Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Wilhelm Nr. 112, Mülhausen
01.08.1914-00.00.1915 infantry service on Western Front, wounded and hospitalized with rheumatism
00.00.1915 transferred to aviation as observer with Feldflieger Abteilung 25, reconnaissance and bombing missions
00.00.1915 pilot training at Flying School Freiburg
00.00.1916 Jagdstaffel 5, wounded in aerial combat
02.1917 Jagdstaffel 26 under Bruno Loerzer
05.1917 commander Jagdstaffel 27
07.07.1918 commander Jagdgeschwader 1 Richthofen
11.1918 demobilized, refused to surrender aircraft to Allies
00.00.1919-00.00.1920 barnstorming pilot and test pilot for Fokker
00.00.1920-00.00.1921 aviation work in Denmark and Sweden with Svensk Lufttrafik
03.02.1922 married Carin von Kantzow
00.00.1922 joined NSDAP after hearing Adolf Hitler speak, appointed Oberster SA-Führer
08.-09.11.1923 participation in Beer Hall Putsch, severely wounded in groin, fled to Austria, morphine addiction began
00.00.1925-00.00.1927 periods in Swedish asylum for morphine withdrawal
05.1928 elected to Reichstag for NSDAP
30.08.1932 President of the Reichstag
30.01.1933 Reichsminister ohne Portfolio, Reichskommissar für die Luftfahrt
11.04.1933 Minister-President of Prussia and Prussian Interior Minister, created Gestapo
1933-1945 President of the Prussian State Council
1935 appointed Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe and Reichsminister der Luftfahrt
1936 Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan, established Reichswerke Hermann Göring
01.02.1938 promoted Generalfeldmarschall
19.07.1940 promoted Reichsmarschall, designated successor to Hitler
1939-1945 Commander-in-Chief Luftwaffe during all major campaigns
22.04.1945 dismissed from all posts after telegram requesting succession
09.05.1945 captured by U.S. forces near Radstadt, Austria
1945-1946 prisoner, Nuremberg Trials
15.10.1946 suicide by cyanide capsule hours before scheduled execution

Awards and Decorations:
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse 1914 (15.09.1914)
Königlich Preussisches Flugzeugbeobachter-Abzeichen (15.11.1914)
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse 1914 (22.03.1915)
Ritter II. Klasse zu dem Orden der Löwen von Zähringen mit Schwertern (19.08.1915)
Königlich Preußische Militär-Flugzeugführer-Abzeichen (12.10.1915)
Ehrenbecher für den Sieger im Luftkampfe (15.04.1916)
Ritter des Königlicher Preussischer Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern (20.10.1917)
Ritterkreuz des Militär Karl-Friedrich-Verdienstorden (02.06.1918)
Pour le Mérite (02.06.1918) as Oberleutnant and Führer Jagdstaffel 27 for repeated outstanding success in aerial combat over the Western Front in 1917-1918, scoring 22 confirmed victories as a fighter pilot and squadron leader, including numerous dogfights supporting ground operations and reconnaissance missions, culminating in command of elite Jagdgeschwader 1 after the death of Manfred von Richthofen
Ehrenzeichen des 9. November 1923 (Blutorden) (09.11.1933)
Goldenes Ehrenzeichen der NSDAP (01.12.1933)
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer (01.09.1934)
1939 Spange zum Eisernen Kreuz 2. Klasse (20.09.1939)
1939 Spange zum Eisernen Kreuz 1. Klasse (30.09.1939)
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (30.09.1939) for direction of Luftwaffe in Polish Campaign
Großkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (19.07.1940) as Generalfeldmarschall and Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe for the decisive victories of the Luftwaffe during the Western Campaign (Fall Gelb) in May-June 1940, where air superiority, close support to armored advances, rapid seizure of airfields in the Netherlands, Belgium and northern France, and relentless bombing of enemy positions enabled the unprecedented Blitzkrieg breakthrough at Sedan, encirclement of Allied forces at Dunkirk, and swift collapse of France in six weeks, making him the sole recipient of this highest grade during the entire Second World War
Numerous foreign orders including Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland, Grand Cross of the Order of the Sword of Sweden, Grand Cross of the Order of St. Stephen of Hungary, and others
Gemeinsames Flugzeugführer-Beobachter Abzeichen mit Brillianten

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Hermann Wilhelm Göring rose from a World War I fighter ace and commander of the legendary Jagdgeschwader Richthofen to become the second most powerful man in the Third Reich and creator of the modern Luftwaffe. His bravery in the skies over Verdun and the Western Front earned him the Pour le Mérite for relentless combat missions and leadership that produced 22 victories. After the war he drifted through aviation jobs abroad before committing to the Nazi movement in 1922, surviving wounds in the Beer Hall Putsch and building key institutions including the Prussian police and air force. As Reichsmarschall his direction of air operations brought spectacular early successes in Poland and the West, rewarded by the unique Grosskreuz for the triumph in France. Later campaigns saw declining influence amid failures over Britain and the Reich, leading to his arrest in 1945. Convicted at Nuremberg he chose suicide rather than the gallows, ending one of the most dramatic careers of the era.



Source:
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/
https://en.wikipedia.org/
https://www.tracesofwar.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/
http://de.metapedia.org/
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/207/G%C3%B6ring-Hermann-Wilhelm.htm
Manvell, Roger and Fraenkel, Heinrich: Hermann Göring, Heinemann, London 1962
Evans, Richard J.: The Third Reich in Power, Penguin Press, New York 2005
Franks, Norman and Van Wyngarden, Greg: Fokker Dr I Aces of World War I, Osprey Publishing, Oxford 2003

Bio of General der Panzertruppe Dietrich von Saucken (1892-1980)

Friedrich Wilhelm Eduard Kasimir Dietrich von Saucken

Date of Birth: 16.05.1892 - Fischhausen, East Prussia (Germany)  
Date of Death: 27.09.1980 - Pullach, Bavaria (Germany)  

Battles and Operations: Battle of Stallupönen, Gumbinnen, Tannenberg, Verdun, Carpathian Mountains, German Spring Offensive, Hundred Days Offensive, Finnish Civil War, Invasion of Poland, Battle of France, Balkan Campaign, Operation Barbarossa, Battle of Moscow, Operation Citadel, Operation Bagration, Vistula-Oder Offensive, East Prussian Offensive  

NSDAP-Number: no information  
SS-Number: no information  
Religion: no information  
Parents: Wilhelm Eduard Hans George Erich von Saucken and Bertha Marie Westphal  
Siblings: no information  
Spouse: Elisabeth Wilhelmine Elfriede Salome Sophie von Saucken (married 27.07.1923 in Loschen)  
Children: Hans-Erich von Saucken (1924-1944), Freda von Saucken (1926), Edelgard von Saucken (1929), Karin von Saucken (1934), Eckart von Saucken (1937), Berta von Saucken (1940)

Promotions  
01.10.1910 Fahnenjunker  
19.07.1911 Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier  
18.08.1911 Fähnrich  
19.06.1912 Leutnant  
18.08.1917 Oberleutnant  
01.04.1925 Rittmeister  
01.05.1934 Major  
01.10.1936 Oberstleutnant  
01.06.1939 Oberst  
01.01.1942 Generalmajor  
01.04.1943 Generalleutnant  
01.08.1944 General der Panzertruppe

Career  
01.10.1910 joined Grenadier-Regiment König Friedrich Wilhelm I. (2. Ostpreußisches) Nr. 3 in Königsberg as Fahnenjunker  
1914-1918 World War I service on Eastern Front with 1. Division (Stallupönen, Gumbinnen, Tannenberg) then Western Front (Verdun, Carpathians 1917, Spring Offensive, Hundred Days Offensive) and with Baltic Sea Division in Finnish Civil War  
1921 joined Freikorps then Reichswehr  
1927 special assignment in the Soviet Union (learned fluent Russian)  
1934 instructor at War School Hannover  
1937-01.10.1940 commander of Reiter-Regiment 2  
01.10.1940-09.12.1941 commander of Schützen-Brigade 4 of 4. Panzer-Division (France, Balkans, Barbarossa)  
27.12.1914-02.01.1942 temporary commander of 4. Panzer-Division near Moscow  
1942 commandant of Schule für Schnelle Truppen  
31.05.1943-14.01.1944 commander of 4. Panzer-Division (Kursk and defensive battles)  
late June 1944 acting commander of III. Panzer-Korps  
29.06.1944-15.10.1944 commander of XXXIX. Panzer-Korps (formed as Kampfgruppe von Saucken after Bagration, defended Berezina escape routes)  
28.09.1944-11.02.1945 commander of Panzerkorps Großdeutschland (counterattacks north of Minsk, Vistula-Oder fighting)  
12.03.1945-07.04.1945 Oberbefehlshaber of 2. Armee in East Prussia (evacuation of Danzig area)  
07.04.1945-09.05.1945 Oberbefehlshaber of Armee Ostpreußen until surrender on Hel Peninsula

Awards and Decorations  
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (06.01.1942, 790. Verleihung) as Generalmajor and Führer 4. Panzer-Division / LIII. Armee-Korps / 2. Panzer-Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte. Awarded for his vigorous leadership of Kampfgruppen Grolig and Lüttwitz during the winter crisis of 1941/42. On 28.12.1941 a vastly superior Soviet force broke through German lines near Blocknja, Bagrinow, Krivzowa and Chmelewaja, threatening the entire Oka position. Through fierce fighting from 29.12.1941 to 02.01.1942 Saucken personally directed counterattacks that crushed the enemy penetration and restored the front.  
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub (22.08.1943, 281. Verleihung) as Generalleutnant and Kommandeur 4. Panzer-Division / XXXXVI. Panzer-Korps / 9. Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte. Awarded for the outstanding performance of his division during Soviet Operation Kutuzov. South of Orel near Jablonowez the division took over a critical defensive sector and destroyed 62 enemy tanks in heavy fighting, preventing a Soviet breakthrough and enabling a successful German counterattack that stabilized the line.  
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern (31.01.1944, 46. Verleihung) as Generalleutnant and Kommandeur 4. Panzer-Division / XXXXVI. Panzer-Korps / 9. Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte. Awarded for the division's exceptional success in the hard defensive battles around Gomel in late 1943, where repeated Soviet attacks were repelled through skillful mobile defense and counterthrusts that inflicted heavy losses on the enemy.  
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwerter und Brillanten (08.05.1945, 27. Verleihung) as General der Panzertruppe and Oberbefehlshaber Armeeoberkommando Ostpreußen. Awarded in recognition of his overall leadership and accomplishments throughout the war, with particular emphasis on his exemplary command during the final battle for East Prussia in early 1945. Despite overwhelming odds he maintained discipline, organized the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of civilians and soldiers across the Baltic, and held the Hel Peninsula until unconditional surrender, refusing personal evacuation by air.

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Dietrich von Saucken, a Prussian aristocrat and cavalry officer who embodied the old-school military tradition with his monocle and saber, rose through the ranks to become one of the most capable armored commanders of the Wehrmacht and the final recipient of the highest German decoration of World War II. Born into East Prussian nobility, he fought in both world wars with distinction, commanded panzer formations on the Eastern Front during critical defensive battles, and led his troops with a sense of honor that often set him apart from the Nazi regime he served under. His leadership in desperate situations earned him every grade of the Knight's Cross, culminating in the Diamonds on the day of Germany's surrender. After ten years in Soviet captivity he was released in 1955 and lived quietly in Pullach until his death in 1980.

Dietrich von Saucken personified the archetypal Prussian conservative officer who openly despised the Nazi brown mob and maintained traditional customs even in the Führerbunker. In March 1945, when ordered to take command of the 2. Armee, he entered Hitler's presence wearing his cavalry saber, kept his monocle in place, gave only a slight bow instead of the Nazi salute, and when told he must subordinate himself to Gauleiter Albert Forster of Danzig, he struck the marble map table with his hand and declared I have no intention, Herr Hitler, of placing myself under the orders of a Gauleiter. To the astonishment of those present Hitler backed down. As a youth Saucken showed great talent as an artist, influenced by the expressionist Künstlerkolonie Nidden on the Curonian Spit. He spoke fluent Russian after his 1927 assignment in the Soviet Union. On 9 May 1945 he refused an offer to escape by plane and chose to surrender with his troops on the Hel Peninsula. His oldest son Leutnant Hans-Erich von Saucken was killed in action in Romania in May 1944. Saucken was buried in Munich alongside his wife and son.



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/  
http://de.metapedia.org/  
Additional cross-referenced data from "Panzer Leader" by Heinz Guderian, "The Face of Courage" by Florian Berger, and various Wehrmacht officer biographical publications available via books.google.com.

Generalleutnant Dr. med. dent. Karl Mauss (1898-1959)

Emil Karl Hans Mauss

Date of Birth: 17.05.1898 - Plön, Holstein (Germany)
Date of Death: 09.02.1959 - Hamburg-Wandsbek (Germany)

Battles and Operations: Polish Campaign 1939, Western Campaign 1940, Operation Barbarossa 1941, Vyazma pocket, defensive battles central sector 1941-1942, Kursk offensive sector 1943, battles around Tarnopol 1944, defensive actions in Lithuania and Latvia 1944, East Prussian and Pomeranian campaigns 1945

NSDAP-Number: No information
SS-Number: No information
Religion: Protestant
Parents: Karl Mauss and Wilhelmine Minna Mauss née Lohoff
Siblings: Brother Wilhelm Mauss and sister Anneliese Mauss
Spouse: Minna Lohoff (first marriage, mother of three children, deceased shortly after the war), remarried 1949
Children: Three children from first marriage, son Dietrich Mauss from second marriage

Promotions:
20.05.1915 Leutnant
01.04.1922 Charakter als Oberleutnant
01.09.1934 Hauptmann
01.04.1938 Major
01.04.1941 Oberstleutnant
01.04.1942 Oberst
01.04.1944 Generalmajor
01.10.1944 Generalleutnant

Career:
08.08.1914-1918 Kriegsfreiwilliger, Lauenburger Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 9 and Infanterie-Regiment 162, Western Front then Eastern Front
1919-1920 Freikorps Oberland and Marinebrigade Ehrhardt, fighting in Silesia
1922-1929 studied dentistry at University of Hamburg, doctorate Dr. med. dent. 1929, private dental practice in Hamburg
01.09.1934 re-entered Reichswehr as Hauptmann, assigned to II. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 69
11.09.1939-01.03.1942 Kommandeur II. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 69 (mot.), 20. Infanterie-Division (mot.) then 10. Panzer-Division
01.03.1942-30.01.1944 Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Regiment 33, 4. Panzer-Division
30.01.1944-02.05.1944, 09.09.1944-31.10.1944, 30.11.1944-05.01.1945, 23.01.1945-23.03.1945 Kommandeur 7. Panzer-Division (multiple periods of command)
05.05.1945-1947 prisoner of war in British captivity
1947 onwards private dental practice in Hamburg

Awards and Decoartions:
1939 Spange zum Eisernen Kreuz 2. Klasse 28.09.1939 as Major and Kommandeur II./Infanterie-Regiment 69 (mot.)
1939 Spange zum Eisernen Kreuz 1. Klasse 25.05.1940 as Major and Kommandeur II./Infanterie-Regiment 69 (mot.)
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold 11.03.1943 as Oberst and Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Regiment 33, 4. Panzer-Division
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 26.11.1941 (694. Verleihung) as Oberstleutnant and Kommandeur II. Bataillon, Schützen-Regiment 69, 10. Panzer-Division, for the night action of 6-7 October 1941 near Vyazma where after the panzer breakthrough he captured key bridges and exits out of the city, personally cleared Vyazma of Soviet forces with his weak battalion and established a provisional defensive line to the west thereby sealing the southern part of the Vyazma pocket
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub on 24.11.1943 (335. Verleihung) as Oberst and Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Regiment 33, 4. Panzer-Division, for outstanding leadership of major elements of the 4. Panzer-Division throughout 1943, in particular saving the VII. Armeekorps from annihilation in February 1943 and the decisive contribution to the attack from Novgorod-Sewerskij to Ssewsk between 8-27 March 1943 including the capture of Ssewsk and closing the gap between 2. Armee and 2. Panzer-Armee
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern on 23.10.1944 (101. Verleihung) as Generalmajor and Kommandeur 7. Panzer-Division, for distinguished leadership in 1944 including the breakout on 23 March 1944 from encirclement at Satanowka by taking command of Panthers from 1. SS-Panzer-Division and linking up with 1. Panzer-Armee as well as subsequent defensive fighting near Lida and in Lithuania that prevented a Soviet breakthrough toward Tilsit
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwerter und Brillanten on 15.04.1945 (26. Verleihung) as Generalleutnant and Kommandeur 7. Panzer-Division, for continued outstanding bravery and leadership since the Swords including defensive combat in Latvia and Lithuania May-October 1944 where he smashed multiple Soviet armored breakthroughs in tank battles near Tryskiai-Telsche and south of Plunge destroying large numbers of enemy tanks and holding the line toward Memel, key actions around Elbing and Konitz January-February 1945 where he personally led attacks with the reconnaissance battalion firing a machine gun to relieve the Elbing garrison and evacuate wounded, blocking a major Soviet breakthrough east of Kamin near Konitz on 12 February 1945 destroying 34 enemy tanks and 24 guns in close combat, and the fierce defense of the Gotenhafen bridgehead in March 1945 despite being severely wounded on 25 March 1945

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Karl Mauss, the one-legged dentist who rose to become one of the most respected panzer commanders of the Wehrmacht, volunteered for service at the age of sixteen in August 1914 and quickly distinguished himself as the best scout in his sector during the Battle of the Somme earning the Iron Cross 2nd Class in 1915 while still not yet seventeen. Transferred to the Eastern Front he received the Iron Cross 1st Class in 1916 and was commissioned Leutnant on 20 May 1915 becoming one of the youngest officers in the German Army. After the armistice he fought with Freikorps units in Silesia before retiring in 1922 to study dentistry in Hamburg where he earned his doctorate and opened a successful private practice. Reactivated in 1934 he commanded an anti-tank company and then a battalion through the Polish and French campaigns before earning the Knight's Cross in November 1941 for his decisive action at Vyazma that helped close the pocket. Promoted rapidly he led Panzergrenadier-Regiment 33 during the heavy fighting of 1943 earning the Oak Leaves for saving a corps and closing critical gaps in the line. Taking command of the famous 7. Panzer-Division in early 1944 he repeatedly demonstrated aggressive leadership and personal bravery in the defensive battles of 1944-1945 including multiple breakouts and counterattacks that delayed Soviet advances toward East Prussia. Seriously wounded in the Gotenhafen bridgehead in March 1945 his left leg was amputated above the knee yet he continued to inspire his men until the final days. After British captivity he returned to his dental practice in Hamburg and remained there until his death from illness in 1959.

Unique and interesting facts include that Mauss was trained as a fighter pilot in 1918 but suffered a crash injury ending that career, he was mentioned three times in the Wehrmachtbericht for his defensive successes east of Tarnopol, north of Tilsit and around Elbing, he personally led assaults firing a machine gun even after losing his leg, the Diamonds were awarded on paper on 15 April 1945 but never physically presented due to the collapse of the Reich, he rejected comfortable quarters throughout the war preferring to stay with his troops, and after the war he resumed his dental practice while his son Dietrich also became a dentist.



Source:
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/209/Mauss-Dr-med-dent-Karl.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Mauss
https://generals.dk/general/Mauss/Karl/Germany.html
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/
https://grokipedia.com/page/Karl_Mauss
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://ww2gravestone.com/people/mauss-dr-karl/
http://de.metapedia.org/
Riaud, Xavier. General-leutnant Dr Karl Mauss (1898-1959). Journal of Dental Problems and Solutions, 2017.
Fraschka, Günter. L’honneur n’a pas de frontières. Paris: France-Empire.
Additional cross-referenced data from Bundesarchiv personnel files and related military archives.

Bio of Fregattenkapitän Albrecht Brandi (1914-1966)

Full name: Albrecht Brandi  

Date of Birth: 20.06.1914 - Dortmund, German Empire  
Date of Death: 06.01.1966 - Köln, West Germany 
 
Battles and Operations: Attack on Westerplatte, Operation Weserübung, Battle of the Atlantic, Mediterranean U-boat campaign, Eastern Baltic Sea U-boat operations  

NSDAP-Number: No information  
Religion: No information  
Parents: Ernst Brandi (mining director and board member of Vereinigte Stahlwerke) and Clara née Jucho  
Siblings: five older siblings (sixth and youngest child of the family)  
Spouse: Eva Brandi  
Children: six children (including daughter Sabine, born 1953)  

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  
01.10.1942 Kapitänleutnant  
09.05.1944 Korvettenkapitän  
18.12.1944 Fregattenkapitän  

Career:  
01.04.1935 joined the Reichsmarine as part of Crew 35, basic training in Stralsund and on school ship Gorch Fock, then light cruiser Karlsruhe for long training cruise 1935-1936, naval academy Mürwik 1936-1937.  
Served as watch officer on minesweepers M-125 and M-1 in 1. Minensuchflottille from 1937, participated in attack on Westerplatte 01.09.1939 as escort for Schleswig-Holstein, mine clearing in North Sea and Baltic, Operation Weserübung April 1940, commander of M-1 from May 1940.  
Transferred to U-boat arm April 1941 after second application, training at Neustadt, then Kommandantenschüler aboard U-552 under Kptlt. Erich Topp end 1941 to January 1942 on patrol off Canadian coast.  
09.04.1942 commissioned Type VIIC U-617 in Kiel, training with 5. U-Flotille, first patrol August-October 1942 to St. Nazaire sinking four merchant ships, second patrol November 1942 to Mediterranean via Gibraltar, attached to 29. U-Flotille at La Spezia/Toulon from November 1942.  
Commanded U-617 on seven patrols until September 1943 with successes in Mediterranean including sinking of minelayer HMS Welshman 01.02.1943 and destroyer HMS Puckeridge 06.09.1943, boat heavily damaged by aircraft and beached off Morocco 12.09.1943, crew interned in Spain, Brandi escaped and returned to Germany via Madrid.  
Took command of U-380 December 1943 in Toulon for one patrol, boat destroyed in USAAF air raid 13.03.1944.  
Commanded U-967 from April 1944, one patrol sinking destroyer escort USS Fechteler 05.05.1944, fell seriously ill during next patrol June 1944 and relinquished command.  
From September 1944 Chief of U-boats in eastern Baltic Sea operating from Helsinki, Danzig and Gotenhafen, directing multiple boats against Soviet shipping.  
January 1945 Chief of Marinekleinkampfverbände in IJmuiden, Netherlands, surrendered to Canadian forces 08.05.1945, released from captivity September 1945.  
Postwar worked as mason, studied architecture at Staatsbauschule Essen, became successful architect in Dortmund with projects also in Saudi Arabia, served three years as chairman of Bund Deutscher Architekten Dortmund section and as Rotary Club chairman Westfalen district 1964.  

Awards and Decorations:  
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse 1940  
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse 1940  
Minesweeper War Badge 1940  
U-boat War Badge 1939 (08.10.1942)  
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (21.01.1943) as Kapitänleutnant and Kommandant U-617 for successes over four war patrols with U-617 in which he was credited with sinking 11 ships for 39,575 GRT including four merchant ships on first patrol and HMS St. Issey plus other vessels on third patrol, plus probable damaging of a destroyer 19.11.1942 (148. Verleihung)  
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub (11.04.1943) as Kapitänleutnant and Kommandant U-617 for further successes on fifth and sixth patrols including sinking of British minelayer HMS Welshman 01.02.1943 vital to Malta operations and claims of a cruiser and large steamer (224. Verleihung)  
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern (09.05.1944) as Kapitänleutnant and Kommandant U-380 / U-967 for continued aggressive operations including sinking of USS Fechteler 05.05.1944 and earlier destroyer attacks (66. Verleihung)  
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten (24.11.1944) as Korvettenkapitän and Führer der U-Boote Ostsee for outstanding leadership of U-boat operations in the eastern Baltic Sea directing successful attacks on Soviet convoys and shipping (22. Verleihung)  
U-boat War Badge with Diamonds 1944  
Italienische Tapferkeitsmedaille in Silber 29.05.1943  

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Albrecht Brandi stood out among U-boat commanders for his bold and aggressive tactics that earned him the rare Diamonds to the Knight's Cross, making him together with Wolfgang Lüth one of only two Kriegsmarine recipients of the highest grade. After early service on minesweepers in the Polish and Norwegian campaigns he transferred to submarines and took command of the new U-617 in 1942, achieving notable sinkings in the Mediterranean despite difficult conditions and frequent unconfirmed claims due to immediate dives after attacks. The destruction of the fast minelayer HMS Welshman on 1 February 1943 was particularly praised as it disrupted vital Allied supply efforts to Malta. When U-617 was crippled by aircraft in September 1943 Brandi beached the boat off the Moroccan coast, led his crew to safety and escaped Spanish internment using a false passport to reach Germany and report personally to Admiral Dönitz. He continued commanding U-380 and then U-967, sinking the American destroyer escort USS Fechteler in May 1944 with an acoustic torpedo before illness forced him ashore. As commander of all U-boats in the eastern Baltic from late 1944 he coordinated flotilla operations that inflicted further losses on Soviet forces in the final months of the war. Captured in the Netherlands in May 1945 he spent several months in Canadian captivity before returning to civilian life. After working briefly as a mason he trained as an architect and built a successful practice in Dortmund while taking on international commissions including in Saudi Arabia. He remained modest and well respected by former comrades who attended his funeral with an honour guard from the Bundesmarine. His former crewmate Reinhard Suhren delivered the eulogy describing him as a knight without fear or reproach.  



Source:  
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albrecht_Brandi  
https://uboat.net/men/brandi.htm  
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/211/Brandi-Albrecht.htm  
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/  
https://rk.balsi.de/index.php?action=list&cat=300  
https://forum.axishistory.com/  
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/  
https://www.bundesarchiv.de/en/  
Busch, Rainer / Röll, Hans-Joachim. German U-boat commanders of World War II.  
Scherzer, Veit. Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939-1945. Jena 2007.  
Additional cross-referenced data from https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.de/ and related naval archives.