Josef Jennewein

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Josef Jennewein
PepiJennewein1.jpg
Born(1919-11-21)21 November 1919
Sankt Anton am Arlberg, Austria
Died27 July 1943(1943-07-27) (aged 23)
missing in action near Orel, Soviet Union
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
RankLeutnant (second lieutenant)
UnitJG 51
Battles/wars
See battles
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Sports career
SportAlpine skiing
hide
Medal record
Representing  Germany
Men's Alpine skiing
World Championship
Gold medal – first place 1939 Zakopane Combined
Silver medal – second place 1939 Zakopane Slalom
Silver medal – second place 1939 Zakopane Downhill

Josef Jennewein (21 November 1919 – 27 July 1943) was a German alpine skier and world champion. During World War II, he served first in the Wehrmacht and then in the Luftwaffe, and was credited with 86 air victories. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.

Jennewein was born on 21 November 1919 at St Anton in the Tyrolean Alps, Austria. He became a world champion in the combined event in Zakopane in 1939, and received silver medals in slalom and in downhill.[1] In 1941 Jennewein participated at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1941 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy and won gold medals in downhill and the combined event. In 1946, the results were cancelled by the FIS because of the limited number of participants from only German-friendly countries during World War II.[2]

World War II[]

Jennewein joined the Luftwaffe as a fighter pilot and was posted to 4. Einsatzstaffel of Jagdfliegerschule 5 (JFS 5—5th Fighter Pilot School). In June 1941, most of the Luftwaffe fighter units were transferred east in preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union launched on 22 June 1941. To augment the remaining fighter units fighting on the Western Front, JFS 5 was tasked with creation of a fourth squadron named 4. Einsatzstaffel — action or combat squadron — in June 1941. The Einsatzstaffel was placed under the command of Oberleutnant Fülbert Zink. In early July, the Einsatzstaffel transferred to Octeville-sur-Mer, north of Le Havre. There, 4. Einsatzstaffel was subordinated to the Stab (headquarters unit) of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing) and flew fighter protection in the area of Le Havre. Initially, 4. Einsatzstaffel was equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4 and E-7, later with the Bf 109 F-1 and F-2.[3]

On 20 September 1941, the Royal Air Force (RAF) flew three "Circus" operations named No. 100A, 100B and 100C, against various targets in northern France. Circus No. 100A headed for the Hazebrouck marshalling yards, Circus No. 100B attacked the Abbeville marshalling yards, and Circus 100C targeted the shipyards at Rouen. Following the days actions, pilots on both sides overclaimed the number of aerial victories.[4] That day, flying his fourth combat mission,[2] Jennewein claimed three Supermarine Spitfire fighters shot down near Fécamp.[5] On 15 October, the RAF flew "Ramrod" No. 69 mission against the Le Havre docks. Twelve Bristol Blenheim bombers from Westhampnett, escorted by Spitfire fighters from No. 234 Squadron, were intercepted by Bf 109 Luftwaffe fighters.[6] In this encounter, Jennewein claimed the destruction of a Spitfire fighter and a Blenheim bomber.[5]

Eastern Front[]

On 28 January 1942, Jennewein was posted to 2. Staffel (2nd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) and transferred on the Eastern Front.[2] At the time, 2. Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant Friedhelm Höschen who was transferred in March and handed command of the Staffel to Leutnant Erwin Fleig. The Staffel was subordinated to I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 51 and was based at Staraya Russa.[7] By the end of July 1942, when he was posted to serve as a flight instructor, he had added 12 Russian aircraft to his tally. He returned to 2./JG 51 before the end of the year, starting a surprising sequence of multiple victories. On 18 January 1943, as a Feldwebel, flying a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 as a wingman of Leutnant Joachim Brendel, he attacked a formation of nine Petlyakov Pe-2 bombers from 202 BAP, in the area of Velikiye Luki, and claimed five kills in five minutes (Brendel claimed three, actual Soviet losses were six).[8][9]

On 27 July 1943, Jennewein claimed his 86th and last aerial victory when he shot down an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft.[10] Shortly after, he was posted as missing in action when his Focke Wulf Fw 190 A-6 (Werknummer 550182[Note 1] —factory number) was shot down by another Il-2 in aerial combat northwest of Mtsensk.[11]

Summary of military career[]

Aerial victory claims[]

According to Spick, Jennewein was credited with 86 aerial victories, including five during the Battle of Britain and further 81 on the Eastern Front, claimed in 271 combat missions.[12] Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces - Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 83 aerial victory claims. This number includes five on the Western Front and 78 on the Eastern Front.[13]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 44234". 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.[14]

Awards[]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ According to a document provided by the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt), the Werknummer may have been 550181.[11]
  2. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3.[15]
  3. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 13:20.[22]
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b This claim is not listed by Matthews and Foreman.[22]
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  6. ^ According to Scherzer as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the I./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders".[32]

References[]

Citations[]

  1. ^ Official results for the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Archived 2005-02-14 at Bibliotheca Alexandrina – FIS-ski.com - (Retrieved on 15 November 2008)
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Obermaier 1989, p. 140.
  3. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 482.
  4. ^ Franks 2016, pp. 197–201.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2003, p. 487.
  6. ^ Sarkar 2010, p. 119.
  7. ^ Prien et al. 2005, pp. 66–67.
  8. ^ Bergström 2019, p. 135.
  9. ^ Weal 2006, p. 87.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Prien et al. 2012, p. 495.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 504.
  12. ^ Spick 1996, p. 235.
  13. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 582–584.
  14. ^ Planquadrat.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b c Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 582.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b Prien et al. 2005, p. 71.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b c Prien et al. 2005, p. 72.
  18. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 582–583.
  19. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 269.
  20. ^ Jump up to: a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 270.
  21. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2006, p. 273.
  22. ^ Jump up to: a b Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 583.
  23. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 583–584.
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Prien et al. 2012, p. 489.
  25. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2012, p. 492.
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2012, p. 494.
  27. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 490.
  28. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i Prien et al. 2012, p. 491.
  29. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 110.
  30. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 210.
  31. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 243.
  32. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 420.

Bibliography[]

  • Bergström, Christer (2019). Black Cross – Red Star, Air War over the Eastern Front. Volume 4. Stalingrad to Kuban. Eskilstuna: Vaktel Books. ISBN 978-91-88441-21-8.
  • Bergström, Christer. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (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.
  • Franks, Norman (2016). Fighter Command's Air War 1941: RAF Circus Operations and Fighter Sweeps Against the Luftwaffe. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-47384-723-1.
  • 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.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-68-7.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2005). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/I—Winterkampf im Osten—6.12.1941 bis 30.4.1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/I—Winter War in the East—6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-76-2.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-77-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/I—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/I—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-02-4.
  • Sarkar, Dilip (2010). Spitfire Voices: Life as a Spitfire Pilot in the Words of the Veterans. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-2457-0.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Weal, John (2006). Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders". Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-045-1.

External links[]

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