Hartmann Grasser

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Hartmann Grasser
Hartmann Grasser.jpg
Born(1914-08-23)23 August 1914
Graz, Austria
Died2 June 1986(1986-06-02) (aged 71)
Cologne, West Germany
Buried
St. Leonhard-Cemetery, Graz, Austria
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1936–1945
RankMajor (major)
UnitJGr 152, ZG 52, ZG 2, JG 51, JG 1, JG 110
Commands heldII./JG 51, III./JG 1
Battles/wars
See battles
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Other workmilitary advisor

Hartmann Grasser (23 August 1914 – 2 June 1986) was a World War II German fighter ace. He was credited with shooting down 103 Allied aircraft[1][2][3] while flying 700 missions on the Western Front, Eastern Front, and in North Africa. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

Early life and career[]

Grasser was born on 23 August 1914 in Graz, Steiermark, Austria. After he received his Abitur, he started studying medicine and became a member of the Austrian Nazis. Following the failed coup attempt in the July Putsch, Grasser fled to Germany. On 1 April 1936, Grasser then joined the Luftwaffe with the rank of Fahnenjunker (cadet).[4] Following flight training, he was posted to I. Gruppe (1st group) of Zerstörergeschwader 52 (ZG 52—52nd Destroyer Wing) where he served with 3. Staffel (3rd squadron) of ZG 52.[5]

World War II[]

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. At the time ZG 52 was commanded by Hauptmann Wilhelm Lessmann and was based at Biblis where it was tasked with protecting Germanys western border in the Saar region during the "Phoney War".[6] On 16 September, Grasser shot down a tethered balloon. The following day, he was awarded the Iron Cross second Class (Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse).[7] A week later, on 24 September 1939, his Messerschmitt Bf 109 109 D-1 was damaged in combat with a French Morane-Saulnier M.S.406, resulting in a forced landing at Bingen.[8] That day, I. Gruppe of ZG 52 was also renamed and became the Jagdgruppe 152 (JGr. 152—152nd Fighter Group). On 6 January 1940, JGr. 152 was ordered to Graz where it was reequipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter and was renamed, again becoming the I. Gruppe of ZG 52.[6] This unit was then renamed and became the II. Gruppe of Zerstörergeschwader 2 (ZG 2—2nd Destroyer Wing). In consequence, Grasser became a pilot of 6. Staffel. Flying with this squadron, he participated in the Battle of France and Battle of England and claimed six aerial victories.[5] During these campaigns, Grasser was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) on 1 June 1940 and received the Iron Cross first Class (Eisernes Kreuz erster Klasse) on 7 July.[7]

With Jagdgeschwader 51[]

In October 1940, Grasser was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing).[7] There, he was assigned to the Geschwaderstab headed by Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders. Prior to his posting to JG 51, Grasser had been destined to become a night fighter pilot which was not what he wanted to do. Additionally, he helped in the formation of the Z-Staffel (Z—Zerstörer or destroyer) of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing) which later became part of Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5—5th Fighter Wing). Grasser also served as a test pilot, flying the Bf 109 T, the aircraft carrier variant, which were to be produced at Fieseler in Kassel. His acquaintance, Oberleutnant Hans Kolbow, introduced him to Mölders who arranged the transfer to JG 51 instead.[9]

Grasser claimed his first aerial victory flying with JG 51 on 1 December 1940 when he shot down a Royal Air Force (RAF) Hawker Hurricane fighter near Ashford.[10]

On the Eastern Front[]

In June 1941, JG 51 and the majority of the Luftwaffe were transferred to the Eastern Front in preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union.[11] On 16 July 1941, Kolbow, the Staffelkapitän of 5. Staffel (5th squadron) was killed in action. He was replaced by Leutnant Hans-Joachim Steffens who also killed in action shortly after. On 1 August, command of 5. Staffel was then handed to Grasser. The Staffel was a squadron of II. Gruppe, at the time commanded by Hauptmann Hubertus von Bonin.[12]

On 2 July 1942, the 9th Army launched Operation Seydlitz as part of the Battles of Rzhev. Defending against this operation, the Soviet Air Forces (VVS—Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily) attacked the Luftwaffe airfield at Bryansk on 5 July. II. Gruppe of JG 51 was scrambled and claimed 46 Soviet aircraft shot down for the loss of Bf 109s damaged. That day, Grasser was claimed eight aerial victories, making him an "ace-in-a-day".[13]

North Africa[]

II. Gruppe had been withdrawn from the Eastern Front in early October 1942 and sent to Jesau in East Prussia, present day Yushny, Bagrationovsky District, for conversion to the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. Conversion training began on 7 October and on 4 November, the unit received the order to convert back to the Bf 109 and to transfer to the Mediterranean theatre. Via various stopovers, II. Gruppe moved to Sidi Ahmed airfield, arriving on 14 November. There, the unit was subordinated to Fliegerführer Tunis (Flying Leader Tunis).[14]

Grasser (left), Nowotny, Rall, Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein at Rastenburg

On 31 August 1943, Grasser was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). He was the 288th member of the German armed forces to be so honored.[7] The presentation was made by Adolf Hitler at the Wolf's Lair, Hitler's headquarters in Rastenburg on 22 September 1943. Three other Luftwaffe officers were presented with awards that day by Hitler, Hauptmann Günther Rall and Hauptmann Walter Nowotny were awarded the Swords to their Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, and Hauptmann Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein also received the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves.[15] Grasser was then transferred to the staff of commanding general of the 4. Jagd-Division (4th Fighter Division), and was promoted to Major on 1 December 1943.[16]

On 28 April 1944, Grasser succeeded Hauptmann Friedrich Eberle as commander of III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1—1st Fighter Wing) which was based at Quedlinburg and fighting in Defense of the Reich.[17] On 3 June, Grasser transferred command of III. Gruppe to Hauptmann Karl-Heinz Weber who had previously commanded 7. Staffel of JG 1 on the Eastern Front.[18] On 15 October, Grasser took command of II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 110 (JG 110—110th Fighter Wing).[19]

Later life[]

In May 1945, Grasser was taken prisoner of war by United States Armed Forces. In 1946, he was transferred to the Soviet Union and was released in 1949. Following his return to Germany, he relocated to India where he became a civilian flight instructor. In 1950, he moved to Syria to work as a military advisor to the Syrian Air Force in Damascus.[16]

Summary of career[]

Aerial victory claims[]

Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for more than 96 aerial victory claims, plus six further unconfirmed claims. This figure includes 83 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and over 13 on the Western Front, including one four-engined bomber.[20]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 47524". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 × 4 km in size.[21]

Awards[]

Promotions[]

1 January 1938: Leutnant (second lieutenant)[4]
1 June 1940: Oberleutnant (first lieutenant)[7]
1 August 1942: Hauptmann (captain)[7]
1 December 1943: Major (major)[16]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as Polikarpov R-5.[24]
  2. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 12:30.[19]
  3. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 09:55.[29]
  4. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Tupolev SB-3.[29]
  5. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 09:45.[44]
  6. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 09:45.[44]
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 12:26 as a Consolidated B-24 Liberator.[44]
  8. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the Stab/Jagdgeschwader 51.[51]

References[]

Citations[]

  1. ^ Constable & Toliver 1968, p. 9.
  2. ^ Weal 2007, p. 46.
  3. ^ Weal & Price 1996, p. 28.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Stockert 1997, p. 368.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Obermaier 1989, p. 58.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Prien et al. 2001, p. 539.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Stockert 1997, p. 369.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Prien et al. 2001, p. 543.
  9. ^ Aders & Held 1993, p. 83.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 12.
  11. ^ Aders & Held 1993, p. 85.
  12. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 277.
  13. ^ Bergström et al. 2006, p. 109.
  14. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 1.
  15. ^ Amadio 2002, p. 199.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b c Stockert 1997, p. 370.
  17. ^ Prien & Rodeike 1996, p. 897.
  18. ^ Prien & Rodeike 1996, p. 997.
  19. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 415.
  20. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 415–417.
  21. ^ Planquadrat.
  22. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 13.
  23. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m Prien et al. 2003, p. 220.
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b c Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 415–416.
  25. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Prien et al. 2003, p. 282.
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Prien et al. 2003, p. 286.
  27. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Prien et al. 2003, p. 284.
  28. ^ Jump up to: a b c Prien et al. 2003, p. 287.
  29. ^ Jump up to: a b Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 416.
  30. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 285.
  31. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2005, p. 93.
  32. ^ Jump up to: a b Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 457–458.
  33. ^ Jump up to: a b c Prien et al. 2005, p. 96.
  34. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 295.
  35. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Prien et al. 2006, p. 303.
  36. ^ Jump up to: a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 296.
  37. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2006, p. 298.
  38. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2006, p. 304.
  39. ^ Jump up to: a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 299.
  40. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Prien et al. 2006, p. 305.
  41. ^ Jump up to: a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 300.
  42. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 302.
  43. ^ Jump up to: a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 306.
  44. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 417.
  45. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2004, p. 11.
  46. ^ Prien et al. 2010, p. 363.
  47. ^ Jump up to: a b c Prien et al. 2010, p. 364.
  48. ^ Jump up to: a b Thomas 1997, p. 216.
  49. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 146.
  50. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 201.
  51. ^ Jump up to: a b Scherzer 2007, p. 345.
  52. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 72.

Bibliography[]

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  • Amadio, Jill (2002). Günther Rall – a Memoir – Luftwaffe Ace & NATO General. Placentia, CA: Tangmere Productions. ISBN 978-0-9715533-0-9.
  • Bergström, Christer. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  • Bergström, Christer; Dikov, Andrey; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2006). Black Cross / Red Star Air War Over the Eastern Front, Volume 3, Everything for Stalingrad. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9761034-4-8.
  • Constable, Trevor J.; Toliver, Raymond F. (1968). Horrido!: Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe. Barker. ISBN 978-0-213-76381-7.
  • (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Matthews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 2 G–L. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-19-6.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Rodeike, Peter (1996). Jagdgeschwader 1 und 11—Einsatz in der Reichsverteidigung von 1939 bis 1945—Teil 2—1944 [Jagdgeschwader 1 and 11—Operations in the Defense of the Reich from 1939 to 1945—Volume 2—1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-24-3.
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  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/II—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/II—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-64-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/I—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/I—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-69-4.
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