Helmut Lipfert capture 1945
 

There are some puzzles on why the US Forces which
captured Lipfert along with 7./JG52 and yet
unlike Hartmann they did not turn him the Russians
especially that according my info he was captured
on a soil which according Yalta Conf, would be
under Russian jurisdiction .

To the US Forces he indicated that he was not
a Nazi neither he had any close talks with Hitler and
similar other stuff with which he tried to portray his
innocence during WWII except his flying
aspirations in the Luftwaffe- From recently
declassified NKVD files, they sent numerous reminders
to OSS asking for Lipfert which were declined by the Americans

Questions
========
1. Who is the pilot seated left of Hitler along with Lipfert ?

2. On 24.6.1944 at II/JG52 he claimed at 09:20 a B-24 near Stefanesti
though this claim was made by numerous other Luftwaffe and Romanian
pilots while on that day 14 Libs(98, 376, 449 and 450 BG's) were lost
and one more from 459 BG on which there are no records, last which is
of particular interest to me.

3. On what grounds Lipfert was spared POW time and not transf. to the Russians ?

Alex K

Re: Helmut Lipfert capture 1945
 

Looks like Hermann Graf to Hitler's left.

David

Re: Helmut Lipfert capture 1945
 

If I remember correctly from his book, his Oak Leaves were awarded in the field in April 1945, and not by Hitler at any of his Headquarters. To my knowledge he never met Hitler and I don't believe that is him in the photograph.

David

Re: Helmut Lipfert capture 1945
 

David

I tend to agree with you , on the right is Graf on the left must be someone
else . got some wrong info .

Alex K

Re: Helmut Lipfert capture 1945
 

According to the Russians, anyone serving in the German forces was a war criminal subject to a sentence of 25 years hard labour.

Re: Helmut Lipfert capture 1945
 

I have a feeling the pilot on Hitler's right is Adolf Dickfeld. Both he and Graf were awarded the Oak leaves within days of each other having achieved over 100 victories, so it would make sense that they would be at the same awards ceremony.

David

Re: Helmut Lipfert capture 1945
 

25th May 1942 at Rastenburg. Graf was also awarded the Swords the same day.

David

Re: Helmut Lipfert capture 1945
 

David
No, on the right is Graf , take a good look (nose etc ) Interesting that on post
WWII era Graf was acused by the Luftwaffe Vets Org of cooperating with the
Soviets during the captivity which in fact the latest declassified NKVD files reveal
otherwise . Hartmann did cooperate with the Russians especially in helpping the
post war Soviet VVS aerial combat tactics . Both Hartmann and Graf along with other
German POW's officers joined Soviet anti Hitler movement for a short time
in order overcome starvation and hardship. Stories that Hartmann in one occasion
threw chair and beat a Russian interrogator are nonsense . Hartmann was released
only thanks his cooperation with the Soviets .


Finally is still interesting on why Lipfert was not turned to the Soviets .

Re: Helmut Lipfert capture 1945
 

Hi Alex,

On Hitler's right, not to the right of the Hitler, is Dickfeld.

On Hitler's left, or to the right of the picture is Graf. This picture appears in Dickfeld's book.

David

Re: Helmut Lipfert capture 1945
 

Depending on how you looking at the photo and yes agreed !