Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

Good evening,
Does anybody have any futher bio on this officer? I lack, among other, his birthplace and -town. Could it be Freiburg?

He served in KG 3, KG 53 (Staka of the Croatian Staffel) as Captain, as a Major he was Kdr. Kroat. Kampfgruppe 1 until the Summer of 1944. What did he do after?

Thanks in advance,
Rittmeister

Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

Dear Rittmeister,
This is what De Zeng and Stankey say about him:
JOACHIM, Gerhard. (DOB: 14.03.13). 01.04.33 entered service with the Heer (Infanterie). 01.01.35 trf to the Luftwaffe and sent to Grosse KFS Lechfeld for Beobachter (observer) training. 01.07.35 trfto Fliegergruppe Tutow as a Beobachter. 12.03.36 trf to III./KG 155 (Schwäbisch-Hall). 15.03.37 trf
to II./KG 355. 07.03.38 ordered temporary duty to Blindfluglehrgang (instrument flight course) Wesendorf (to 22.04.38). 01.05.39 trf to II./KG 53. 01.02.41 promo to Hptm. 26.03.41 Hptm., appt Staka 10./KG 53 (to 20.12.41). 22.12.41 trf to Ob.d.L./RLM pool. 21.01.42 appt Ic in Stab/Nahkampfführer beim VIII. Fliegerkorps. 11.09.42 removed from list of Lw.-Generalstabcandidates. 01.04.43 in KG 53, promo to Maj. 12.43 Maj., appt Kdr. Kroat. Kampfgruppe 1 (to 07.44)



No birthplace is indicated, unfortunately...

Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

I have him as the St Kap of 10 (Erg) Staffel) in 1941. 10 (Kroat) Staffel was formed at the end of 1941 with Maj Nikola Mikec as St Kap. This then becomes 15 (Kroat)./KG 53 only to become part of Kroatien Kampfgruppe 1 in Dec 43 and apparently with Gerhard Joachim as Kdr. I am sure Boris Ciglic will help with this one!

Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

Joachim was German Luftwaffe and the data given above is all that we could find on him. Below are the Croatian Air Force people connect to KG 53:

BOKO, Ivan (Ivo). 14.06.41 AF Nadporučnik, assigned to 8th Squadron this date. 03.03.42 AF Nadporučnik, received the German Iron Cross 1st Class for service with the Croatian Bomber Group in Russia. 16.07.42 AF Nadporučnik, pilot in 15.(kroat.)/KG 53, shot down by AA fire in Russia this date and KIA along with his crew.
FABIJANOVIĆ, Šime. 28.09.43 AF Poručnik, pilot in 15.(kroat.)/KG 53, defected to Italy this date in a Do 17Z.
GALANTAJ (GALANTHAY), Bela. 05.05.42 AF Bojnik, volunteered for the Croatian Luftwaffe Legion. 22.05.43 AF Bojnik, in 5th Air Gp. (15.(kroat.)/KG 53), appt liaison officer to Fliegerführer Kroatien in Sarajevo. 10.12.43 promoted to Podpukovnik. 14.07.44 AF PPuk., appt chief of staff of the Croatian Luftwaffe Legion (and 13.12.44).
GRAOVAC, Vladimir. c.01.09.41 AF Satnik, appointed CO of 13th Bomber Squadron/5th Air Group then en-route to Russia after training in Germany. 10.41 AF Bojnik, assumed command of 15.(kroat.)/KG 53 (CAF 5th Bomber Gp.) and led the formation until he was killed during a mission over Moscow on 01.12.41. 08.04.42 AF Bojnik, posthumously awarded the German Iron Cross I Class.
GUMA, Vikentije. 19.07.41 volunteered for the Croatian Luftwaffe Legion. 1942 AF Satnik, training at Grosse Kampffliegerschule 3 in Germany. 22.05.43 AF Nadsatnik, appt CO of 14th Squadron/5th Air Gp. 06.09.43 promoted to AF Bojnik. 09.43 AF Bojnik, CO of the 5th Bomber Gp. (formerly 15.(kroat.)/KG 53). 01.03.44 CO of the 2d Squadron of the bomber group component of the Croatian Luftwaffe Legion (and 07.44). 13.12.44 AF Bojnik, adjutant of the Croatian Luftwaffe Legion.
JORDANIĆ, Josip. 19.07.41 volunteered for the Croatian Luftwaffe Legion. 03.03.42 AF Poručnik, awarded the German Iron Cross I Class for service with the Croatian bomber group in Russia. 09.42 with 15.(kroat.)/KG 53 in North Russia. 10.12.43 promoted to Satnik. 13.12.44 AF Satnik, pilot in the 1. Schlachtstaffel of the Croatian Luftwaffe Legion.
MAKEJEV, Igor. 21.11.41 reserve AF Nadporučnik. 15.03.43 AF Nadporučnik, reassigned to 15.(kroat.)/KG 53. 15.12.43 promoted to AF Satnik. 13.12.44 AF Satnik, observer in the 1st Ground-Attack Squadron/Croatian Luftwaffe Legion.
MARIĆ, Ljudevit. 29.09.42 AF Poručnik, in 15.(kroat.)/KG 53 in North Russia. 1942-43 AF Poručnik, training in Germany at Grosse Kampffliegerschule 3. 01.44 AF Nadporučnik, instructor at the Borovo Flying School in Croatia (and 07.44).
MATIJEVIĆ, Ivan. 03.43 AF Poručnik, signals officer in 15.(kroat.)/KG 53.
MIKEC, Nikola. 04.10.41 AF Bojnik, appointed member of a mobile court in Zagreb this date. c. 01.42 AF Bojnik, training at Grosse Kampffliegerschule 3 in Germany. c.15.03.42 AF Bojnik, appointed CO of the 5th Bomber Group in Russia. 02.12.42 AF Podpukovnik, CO of 5th Bomber Group, now back in Croatia. 22.05.43 AF Podpuk., CO of 5th Bomber Group (15.(kroat.)/KG 53), appointed CO of the Observer School/Croatian AF. 07.06.44 AF Podpuk., chief of institutional or legal affairs of the Croatian Luftwaffe Legion, appointed CO of the 1st Air Base Command at Zagreb-Borongaj (still 01.09.44).
ORLIĆ, Ivan. 18.10.41 AF Poručnik, shot down in a Potez 25 near Rogatica/East Bosnia. 05.42 AF Poručnik, observer in the 2d Air Group at Sarajevo-Rajlovac. 10.03.43 AF Nadporučnik, in 15.(kroat.)/KG 53. 15.07.44 AF Nadporučnik, in 2d Air Group Sarajevo.
ORŠIĆ, Juraj. 13.07.41 promoted to AF Satnik. 05.04.43 AF Satnik, in HQ 2d Air Base Command, transferred to 15.(kroat.)/KG 53. 13.12.44 AF Satnik, CO of the 2d Technical Co./Croatian Luftwaffe Legion.
PEROVIĆ, Marin. 03.03.42 AF Poručnik, received the Iron Cross 1st Class for service with the Croatian bomber group in Russia. 02.12.42 in the 5th (Bomber) Air Group at Zagreb-Borongaj, promoted to AF Nadporučnik. 28.09.43 AF Nadporučnik, observer in 15.(kroat.)/KG 53, deserted to Italy this date in a Do 17Z.
PINDULIĆ, Nikola. 1942 AF Poručnik, training at Grosse Kampffliegerschule 3 in Germany. 21.12.42 AF Poručnik, awarded the Great Silver Medal for Courage for service in the 5th (Bomber) Air Group. 28.01.43 AF Poručnik, pilot in 15.(kroat.)/KG 53 and reported MIA this date in a Do 17Z near Petrovac.
ŠARIĆ, Milan. 03.43 AF Poručnik, in 15.(kroat.)/KG 53. 10.12.43 promoted to AF Nadporučnik. 13.07.44 AF Nadporučnik, pilot in 3d Squadron/1st Air Group at Zagreb-Borongaj.
SCHMIDT, Vladimir. 25.08.42 AF Satnik in 15.(kroat.)/KG 53, KIA this date in Russia in a Do 17Z.
SMIDT, Vladimir. 25.08.42 AF Nadporučnik, pilot in 15.(kroat.)/KG 53, killed together with his crew when their Do 17Z crashed in Russia.
VLAJNIĆ, Stjepan. 10.03.43 AF Poručnik, in 15.(kroat.)/KG 53.

L.

Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

First of all a very big thank you to all these very helpful replies. I was amazed to get so many replies, being a Luftwaffe-illiterate. I don't know how exeptional or normal the war career of Major Joachim was. But being Staka of the Croatian Staffel does make him a bit of the odd one out, no?

In any case, Herrn Joachim seems to have been a solid officer.

If permitted I have some follow-up questions:

1) in Larry de Zeng's bio, one reads: "11.09.42 removed from list of Lw.-Generalstabcandidates" - what could have been the reason for this?

2) Did Joachim succeed Maj Nikola Mikec as Staka of 15.(kroat.)?

3) Anything known about his awards? I know he had the EK.1 but was that his highest award achieved?

I assume, nothing known - as Larry mentioned the sources were no doubt exhausted - about his whereabouts in 1945?

Thanks in advance,
Rittmeister

Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

Rittmeister wrote in part:
There are number of reasons why this might have happened: (1) he may have removed his name himself for personal or family reasons; (2) not all of his officer efficiency reports (Offz.Beurteilungen) were perfect; (3) he may have had a personal conflict with someone higher in rank who was connected to the selection process; (4) a higher authority may have interceded and squashed his application believing him to be of more value in the field; etc., etc., etc.

His Offiziere Personalakte (personnel file) may be available at BA-MA Freiburg. If so, and with their permission, you might be able to order a copy of it. Some of these files are only a few pages while others run over 100 pages. The average copying cost for a typical file is Eur. 65,00.

L.

Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

Thanks, Larry. I never ventured much into Luftwaffe-fields but here I am anyway, I was hoping you would still be around to shed some light onto this career. He did many different things, Herrn Major Joachim is tough to analyse at first glimpse. It will indeed become needed to get his BA-MA Akte.

My questions here were raised because I got the war time photos of Joachim plus a photo album.

One last question: on one photo, he is pictured next to Oberst Hagen (as written on the back). Who could this have been?

Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

Could it be Walter Hagen? https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Hagen_(Pilot)


HAGEN, Walter Adolf Christian. (DOB: 16.03.97 in Kiel). (RE). 19.05.15 entered the Heer. 1915 volunteered for Husarenregiment 13. WWI served with the Seeflieger, rising to Hauptwachtmeister. 23.11.17 began pilot training with I. Seeflieger-Abt. 31.05.18 training with the Flieger-Fortbildungs-Schule Holtenau. 07.07.18 training at the Kampfeinsitzerschule Putzig. 02.08.18 trf to the Kommando der Flieger beim Marinekorps Flandern. 01.09.24 pilot for Junkers Luftverkehr (to 28.02.26). 1924 with Severa (to 30.06.28). 1924 joined the Stahlhelm (to 1926). 01.03.26 worked for the Severa company. 01.07.28 became a Flugkapitän for the German airline industry and as a test pilot for the test establishments at Travemünde und Rechlin. 01.04.35 entered the Luftwaffe with a rank of Hptm. (RDA 01.05.35) and attended Infanterie Lehrgang in Königsbrück. 01.06.35 trf to Erprobungsstelle Travemünde and appt flight operations director for the testing of aircraft there.
01.04.36 trf to RLM and appt Referent für Flugsicherheit. 01.01.38 appt Staka of Erprobungs-u.Lehrstaffel (See). 01.02.38 promo to Maj. 15.09.39 appt Kdr. I.(St.)/Tr.Gr. 186 (to 02.07.40).
22.06.40 appt Kommodore St.G. 1. 01.07.40 promo to Obstlt. 21.07.40 Maj., awarded Ritterkreuz, Kdr. III./St.G. 1. 17.02.42 Obstlt., awarded Eichenlaub, Kommodore St.G. 1. 01.04.42 promo to Oberst. 10.08.42 awarded Ehrenpokal. 01.01.43 appt provisional Fliegerführer 1 (Luftflotte 1 (to 15.01.43). 15.01.43 appt provisional Fliegerführer 1 (Tunisia) (to 30.03.43). 15.03.43 appt provisional Fliegerführer 3 (Gabes). 09.04.43 Oberst, Fl.Fü. 3 injured in Fi 156 crash at Grambalia in Tunisia and sent to hospital in Kiel. 24.06.43 in Frontflieger-Sammelgruppe, trf to Führerreserve Ob.d.L. 17.09.43 ordered to Lw.-Kdo. Südost for temporary duty. 09.43 appt Fliegerführer Albanien (to 13.06.44). 30.04.44 concurrently appt Fliegerführer Kroatien (to 29.08.44). 01.07.44 promo to Gen.Maj. 29.08.44 appt Fliegerführer Nordbalkan (to 31.01.45). 01.02.45 appt Kdr. 17.
Fliegerdivision (to 08.05.45). 08.05.45 became American POW. 1947 released from U.S. custody. †24.11.63 in Kiel following a long illness. Credited with sinking 210,000 GRT of shipping and damaging another 306,500 GRT.
(Source: De Zeng and Stankey)

Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

R. and T.M. -

Yep, that's the correct Hagen - Walter Hagen. As Fliegerfuehrer Albanien and then Fliegerfuehrer Kroatien, he was the boss of air operations there and Joachim's kroatische Kampfgruppe was tactically subordinate to Hagen during the first half of 1944.

Joachim's Kampfgruppe was reorganized and consolidated into a single Staffel on 28 July 1944. Croatian Satnik (Hptm.) Franjo Gospodaric took over the Staffel, now named 1. kroatische Schlachtstaffel, and departed Croatia for East Prussia without aircraft.

Joachim was now redundant and was most likely either absorbed into the Stab of Fliegerfuehrer Kroatien or returned to Germany for further assignment.


L.

Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

Hi all
Thanks to Matti, loss report from

1943-09-14, 15./KG 53, Do 17 Z-3, 2673, Gruda-Dubrownik
Flugzeugführer Major Joachim, Gerhard,
Beobachter Ofw Gerbeth, Paul,
Bordfunker Ofw Fleischhut, Artur,
Bordmechaniker Ofw Frey, Emil,
Kr.Ber. Sonderführ. Schoenen, Heinz,
Beim Start ausgebrochen. Bruch 100 %.


In Ciglić Savić book Dornier Do 17 The Yugoslav story there is mention of this case and that Gerhard Joachim plus Emil Frey were seriously wounded. True reason for crash is still unknown and so is exact location. I was searching for more info but was not able to find anything including pictures.


Also in the same book is:
Major Gerhard Joachim became Staffelkapitan in "December" 1942 and he remained at this post until disbandment of this unit.
Oddly enough they kept Major Nikola Mikec as his counterpart...


and the thing about Gruda airfield in that period is also very complicated story, surrender of Italian forces, fight with German forces, recce flight of 15(kroat)/53KG in that period...


rittermeister I sent you PM


best regards
Antun

Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

Thank you Antun. Grass surface + poor drainage + September rains = slippery surface = aborted take-offs and accidents.


Gruda (YUGO) (42 32 00 N – 18 20 10 E) (AFHRA)
General: landing ground (Landeplatz) in wartime Croatia near the coast of Dalmatia 24 km SE of Dubrovnik and 5 km NW of the town of Gruda. History: used prewar by the Royal Yugoslav Air Force. No record found of any Luftwaffe air units being based here. Surface and Dimensions: grass surface with poor drainage measuring approx. 915 x 155 meters (1000 x 170 yards) and rectangular in shape. No paved runway. Infrastructure: none. The nearest rail connection was in Gruda. Dispersal: no organized dispersal facilities.
Remarks:
29 Nov 43: ordered evacuated and destroyed by Lw.-Kdo. Südost.
Operational Units: none identified.
Station Commands: unnumbered Flugplatzkdo. (1943).
Station Units (on various dates – not complete): elements of Flugmelde-Funk-Kp. z.b.V. 28 (Spilja, Jan 44).
[Sources: AFHRA A5264 p.133 (9 Jul 43); chronologies; BA-MA; NARA; PRO/NA; web site ww2.dk]

The book, Frka, Danijel, Josip Novak and Siniša Pogačić. La Force Aérienne Croate 1941 – 1945. Collection Histoire de L’Aviation Nº 10. Outreau (France): Editions Lela Presse, 2000. ISBN: 953-97564-0-4. Oversize Hb (heavy card cover). 303p. Profusely illus. Maps. Dwgs. Color profiles. Bibliography. Appendices, covers the Staffel from p.124 to p.139. All that is said is that the Staffel flew reconnaissance missions over the Adriatic during September 1943. At that time, according to the authors, Joachim was just the Luftwaffe Verbindungsoffizier (liaison officer) to the Croatian Kampfgruppe.

L.

Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

Dear Larry, your work is astonishing, I read some of it regarding airfields. Hat off to you sir.
Maj Joachim Gerhard was in few places mentioned as staffelkapiten, not only liaison officer. one source http://www.ww2.dk/air/kampf/kg53.htm


in attachment is airfield Gruda in 2018.

Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

Antun -

Thank you very much for the compliments!

Pilots taking off and landing at Gruda would have to be sharp and on their toes with those mountains in the background...………..no hangovers allowed! Thanks for posting the photos.

L.

Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

Interesting that the III./KG 3 NVMs have Graovac as the Gr Kdr at the time of his death albeit by then, many of the 3 other Staffel had started converting to the Ju 88

Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

Thanks everybody for the continued messages, I knew this forum with all its potential would not dissapoint but I got a lot more than I bargained for.

Antun, I was always under the impression that he replaced Mikec? So they served together as the same function?

Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

Hi Larry, thanks again for this contrubution! Lots of the pictures of Joachim have "Sarajewo" and "Agram" written on the backside. So only Aufklärung of 15.(kroat.)Staffel in this time frame, when Joachim crashed?

Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

They were sent down to Gruda to fly recce missions and that's what they were doing at the time he crashed. Did they also fly bombing missions from Gruda in fall 1943? Probably, but I don't have any examples.

L.

Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

Hi all

This case is complicated and to me still partially unknown. But what I was able to find out by now is only form locals who were in here. I found two persons who were 11 at the time and one was living nearby and other was working in the field near Gruda airfield. So this is based on their statements.
Konavle county was divided between Independent state of Croatia and Italy (province of Cattaro) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Province_of_Cattaro

-On 03.rd of September 1943. (released on 08.09.1943.) Italian forces surrendered.
- on 11. 09. 1934. Italian troops marching towards Dubrovnik form Kotor, German forces in Gruda requested that they lay down their arms which Italians refused, and the first skirmish started.
- from 11. 09. untill 15. there were fights between Germans and Italians in Konavle (statements form locals).
- On unknown date Italians with artillery attacked airfield Gruda and destroyed it. (statement from locals)
- on September 1943. 15 kroat/ 53 KG started flying recce missions over Adriatic (most probably to overview Italian retreat - my assumption)
- Do 17 is reported lost 14.09.1943. on airfield Gruda with 5 persons (loss during movement) (my assumption is that 5th person was someone from airfield)

Also airfield Gruda was grass surface airfield with some infrastructure (Italian border house and some unknown buildings), there was small fuel depot in there (some man Filipović was in charge) and was never used for normal operations only some occasional landings (statement from locals)

part I

Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

part II


In all books of Croatian air forces during ww2 there is very few information about Gerhard Joachim or no information at all, only Ciglić in his Do 17 Yugoslav story is stating his command plus mentioning the loss of Do 17 at Gruda with Joachim on board. What is also interesting that maj. Mikec was in charge as well ???



Airfield Gruda is also complicated story as well.
First landing ground was near Klaić houses near Gruda during Kingdom of Yugoslavia and later on it was placed westward towards Dubrovnik due to flooding of the field. I still don't know more about it.

Locals, I was able to find by now are all saying the same, it was never used as permanent airfield but occasionally they saw some aircraft landing in there. Some of infrastructure made by Italians still exist to this day in close proximity of airfield. After the war airfield was used in short span for civil use until 1968 when Airport Dubrovnik with modern infrastructure was built.

Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

The Italian surrender 8-9 September 1943 left the entire Dalmatian coastal area unprotected and this caused the Germans to immediately rush reinforcements into the coastal area, including 15.(kroat.)/KG 53. In addition to occupying Albania and attacking Italian strong points and resistance strongholds between Tirana and Rijeka, the Germans feared the possibility of Allied landings along the coast; hence, the need to step up reconnaissance patrols over the Adriatic as well as over the islands off the Dalmatian coast. Italian resistance in Dalmatia was finally subdued a month later after heavy fighting supported by Ju 87s brought in from Greece.

L.

Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

I remember reading somewhere in the KG 53 book,Gerhard Joachim was an Oberst in the Bundesluftwaffe after WWII.

Edward L. Hsiao

Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

very interesting
do you have the name of the KG 53 book
Antun

Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
 

This may or may not be the book in question. Kampfgeschwader 53 Legion Condor: The Complete History of KG 53 in World War II by Heinz Kiehl.



Chapter 1-The Period Before The Second World War
Chapter 2-Building Up The Air Force
Chapter 3-The Second World War
Chapter 4-The Croatian Staffel
Chapter 5-The IV. Gruppe
Chapter 6-The Geschwader's Losses
Chapter 7-KG Legion Condor 53: Recipients Of The Knight's Cross
Chapter 8-KG 53 Command Position Staffing
Chapter 9-V-1 Operations by KG 53
Chapter 10-The Military Doctor
Chapter 11-The Geschwader Signals Company-Ln Kp (mot) KG 53