A photograph shows three German Luftwaffe officers, from left to right: Hauptmann Gustav Pressler (Gruppenkommandeur III.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"), Oberleutnant Hans-Karl Stepp (Staffelkapitän 7.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"), and Oberleutnant Wilhelm Kaiser (Adjutant III.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"). They were standing in formation in front of a Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka" aircraft during Ritterkreuz award ceremony on 4 February 1942. Pressler received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes after flying about 300 combat missions, Stepp after 418, and Kaiser after 130.
In the bitter winter of 1941–42 on the Eastern Front, the Luftwaffe’s dive-bomber units played a critical role in supporting the hard-pressed German ground forces during the defensive battles around Moscow and the subsequent Soviet counteroffensives. Among the most distinguished formations was Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 “Immelmann” (StG 2), a veteran wing named after World War I ace Max Immelmann. Operating the iconic Junkers Ju 87 Stuka, StG 2 flew thousands of ground-attack sorties in appalling weather, targeting Soviet tanks, troop concentrations, and supply lines. It was in this demanding environment that three officers from the Geschwader—Hauptmann Gustav Preßler, Oberleutnant Hans-Karl Stepp, and Oberleutnant Wilhelm Kaiser—were simultaneously awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 4 February 1942. Their joint ceremony symbolized the collective heroism and professionalism of StG 2’s aircrews during one of the most grueling phases of the campaign.
The Recipients and Their Achievements
Hauptmann Gustav Preßler (born 13 October 1912 in Hamburg; died 9 October 1985 in Lippstadt) served as Gruppenkommandeur of III./StG 2 “Immelmann”. A seasoned Stuka pilot and leader, Preßler had already earned the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse and the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (awarded 13 January 1942). By early February 1942, he had accumulated an impressive record of combat missions, demonstrating exceptional leadership in directing his Gruppe’s operations amid the harsh Russian winter. His Ritterkreuz citation highlighted his personal bravery in the air and his skill in coordinating close air support that repeatedly blunted Soviet attacks. Preßler would later command Sturzkampfgeschwader 1 (later redesignated Schlachtgeschwader 1) and receive the Eichenlaub (188th recipient) to his Ritterkreuz on 16 January 1943. He continued serving postwar in the Bundeswehr, retiring as Oberstleutnant.
Oberleutnant Hans-Karl Stepp (born 2 September 1914 in Gießen; died 12 December 2006 in Leipzig) was Staffelkapitän of 7./StG 2 “Immelmann”. A former law student who joined the Luftwaffe in 1936, Stepp had flown in the invasions of Poland and France before the Eastern campaign. By 4 February 1942 he had completed 418 combat missions—an extraordinary number for a Stuka pilot at that stage of the war. His precise dive-bombing attacks on enemy armor and artillery positions, often under heavy anti-aircraft fire, earned him the Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe and Deutsches Kreuz in Gold. The Ritterkreuz recognized not only his personal flying skill but also his leadership of the 7. Staffel during the winter fighting. Stepp later rose to Geschwaderkommodore of SG 2 “Immelmann” and was awarded the Eichenlaub (462nd recipient) on 25 April 1944 after more than 800 missions. Postwar, he practiced law.
Oberleutnant Wilhelm Kaiser (born 30 November 1914 in Pockau, Saxony; died 24 September 1993 in Niedernhausen) served as Adjutant of III./StG 2 “Immelmann”. Kaiser had joined the Luftwaffe in 1935 and flown with the Gruppe since its early days (originally II./St.G. 163). He was wounded twice—once in May 1940 during the Western campaign and again in Crete in May 1941—yet consistently returned to duty. By early 1942, as Adjutant, he had flown 130 ground-attack sorties, providing vital administrative and operational support while leading from the front. His awards prior to the Ritterkreuz included the Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (20 October 1941) and Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (19 January 1942). The Ritterkreuz citation emphasized his reliability, courage under fire, and contributions to the Gruppe’s combat effectiveness. Kaiser was promoted to Hauptmann on 1 April 1942 and later held staff positions with the General der Schlachtflieger and various Fliegerkorps. He flew a total of 180 sorties during the war.
The Ceremony on 4 February 1942
On 4 February 1942, in a modest but solemn ceremony at one of StG 2’s forward airfields on the Eastern Front (exact location most likely near the Smolensk or Vyazma sector), the three officers stood together in formation to receive their Ritterkreuze. Contemporary photographs capture the moment: Hauptmann Preßler, Oberleutnant Stepp, and Oberleutnant Kaiser in their blue-grey Luftwaffe uniforms, the black-and-white crosses gleaming against their chests. The image of the three men standing side-by-side has become one of the most recognizable group portraits of Luftwaffe Ritterkreuzträger from the early Eastern Front period.
Such ceremonies were typically conducted by the Geschwaderkommodore or a senior officer from the Luftflotte, often in the presence of the unit’s pilots, ground crews, and mechanics. The awards served a dual purpose: to honor individual valor and to boost morale among the exhausted Stuka crews who faced constant danger from Soviet fighters, flak, and the brutal winter conditions. For StG 2 “Immelmann,” which had been in continuous action since June 1941, these three simultaneous Ritterkreuze underscored the wing’s elite status and the effectiveness of its close air support doctrine.
Legacy and Historical Significance
The shared award of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes to Preßler, Stepp, and Kaiser on 4 February 1942 highlighted the extraordinary demands placed on Stuka units during the winter of 1941–42. Their achievements—hundreds of missions flown in sub-zero temperatures, often with limited maintenance and against numerically superior opposition—exemplified the courage and professionalism of the Luftwaffe’s Schlachtflieger. All three men survived the war and went on to distinguished postwar careers, but their service with StG 2 “Immelmann” remained the defining chapter of their military lives.
Today, the photograph of the three officers remains a powerful visual testament to that day—an enduring image of comradeship forged in the crucible of aerial warfare. The Ritterkreuz awards to Hauptmann Gustav Preßler, Oberleutnant Hans-Karl Stepp, and Oberleutnant Wilhelm Kaiser on 4 February 1942 stand as a lasting record of the sacrifices and achievements of Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 “Immelmann” on the Eastern Front.
Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=29879&start=20880
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