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-   -   Seeking info about a German airman killed by French troops - June 1940 (http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=48657)

loiclemarchand 17th July 2017 19:36

Seeking info about a German airman killed by French troops - June 1940
 
Hello gentlemen,
I found in a french report that the 11th June 1940, a german parachutist bailed out from an aircraft. When he touched the ground, this airman was killed by french troops. The event occurred in a village called Heudreville close to Evreux, Normandy.
This airman's name is Gefr Hans Görtzen.
In the volksbund files, his death date was 14th June 1940. So it's clear that is the same guy.

Anyone have info about this loss ? (KG or JG and what's happened ?)

Many thanks in advance
Regards,

Loic

Laurent Rizzotti 17th July 2017 22:15

Re: Seeking info about a German airman killed by French troops - June 1940
 
Hello Loic,

Which king of report is it ? Because there were a lot of reports of "german parachutists" and "fifth columnist" shot during this campaign, and most were probably not German at all, just non-French speaking foreigners.

In my various books on the air losses during this campaign, I can't find any Hans Görtzen.

And you have one report saying he was killed on 11 June 1940 in Heudreville, while the Volksbund shows a Hans Görtzen being killed three days later more than 60 km more west, at Le Hom.

By the way Heudreville was on the front line on 11 or 12 June 1940, and was left by retreating French troops in the evening of the 12th.

loiclemarchand 18th July 2017 08:19

Re: Seeking info about a German airman killed by French troops - June 1940
 
Hello Laurent,

It's come from a Gendarmerie's report. And Le Hom is a hameau of Heudreville-sur-Eure so it is the same village.

"Tuesday the 11th of June around 11:00, a parachutist bailed out from a german aircraft while flying over Heudreville-sur-Eure. This airman landed at the hamlet Le Hom close to the factory Vigier. Soon after his landing, he was killed by french troops who retreated toward the National Road 154 from Louviers to EVreux. This parachutist who is buried in the garden of the factory Vigier at the hamlet Le Hom is identified as :
G.E.F./R. Hans GORTZEN-F.P.N.25.797/E
12-J-R637-Gef 146.40"

Just to know but the 11 june was well a tuesday, so maybe there is a mistake on the volksbund date, maybe on the french report...

Thanks for your suggestions

Loic

radovan 18th July 2017 10:42

Re: Seeking info about a German airman killed by French troops - June 1940
 
http://www.volksbund.de/index.php?id...rlustsuche_pi2[gid]=cc434be6edf3254af52af6eb4ebf0835

Brian Bines 19th July 2017 14:40

Re: Seeking info about a German airman killed by French troops - June 1940
 
As Laurent says could not find this man in any of the books on the Battle of France . Google Earth does show a Le Hom adjoining Heudeville-zur-Eure while the grave site just shows Gef Hans Gortzen born 13-6-20 at Xanten killed 14-6-40 . It looks like the original report shows a FPN of 25797 but this seems to be used during 1941 by a Naval Flak Unit. If 25797 was an FPN perhaps someone might be aware if any Luftwaffe Air Unit had if in June 1940, Hans Gortzen was killed just before of just after his 20th birthday.

loiclemarchand 20th July 2017 10:15

Re: Seeking info about a German airman killed by French troops - June 1940
 
Thank you Brian for your precision


Well, certainly the aircraft from which he bail out didn't crash and manage to land safely...

Regards
Loic

Brian Bines 20th July 2017 11:30

Re: Seeking info about a German airman killed by French troops - June 1940
 
One that might be considered is from Peter Cornwall's book Battle Over France Then and Now this shows on 11-6-40 Do17M of St.St.KG28 crash landed following fighter attack over Le Harve crew believed unhurt - the Luftwaffe GQM report of 17-6-40 page 2 item 54 shows this aircraft as 100% with one crewman missing on 11-6-40. Whether this indicates a man baling out is not stated , however the change note on GQM dated 9-9-40 page 2 item 31 states strike out one man missing . I cannot tell whether this means the original missing report was wrong or if it means the missing has been changed because a body was found. If Gortzen did bale out on 11-6-40 it may not have been reported until 14-6-40, hence the difference in dates, when I assume the Germans advanced in the area.
Perhaps a request to WAST for info. might answer this ,

Regards
Brian Bines

loiclemarchand 20th July 2017 22:20

Re: Seeking info about a German airman killed by French troops - June 1940
 
Thank you very much Brian, much appreciated

Well I will request the Wast

Thanks again

Regards
Loic


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