Oberst Hajo Herrmann - May 1945
 

-Beginning May 1945 he discharged from the Wehrmacht part of his "Bees" stationed at Salzburg-Ainring with a last order for a sabotage action.

- About 5th and 6th of May he expected at Klagenfurt-Zollfeld "Bees" returning from sabotage missions behind the Russian lines in Hungary.

- On May 8th he released at Klagenfurt-Zollfeld his last "Bees" from the Luftwaffe.

- On the first day of armistice Hauptmann Werner Schmidt flew on order of Oberst Hajo Herrmann to Budapest to informe the High Russian Command about Herrmann's military carreer and experience in Air War against the USAAF. The Russians would be glad to meet the Oberst and Divisional Commander. On May 10th Schmidt returned with a "Fieseler Storch". Schmidt's Si-204 and his crew Olt. Königs and Ofw. Götz were kept as security. On May 11th Oberst Herrmann flew with Hptm. Schmidt to Budapest.

Herrman returned after 10, Schmidt, Königs and Götz after 5 years from Russia. Werner Schmidt wrote a detailled report of his experiences in a - so far unknown - newspaper.
Who knows the newspaper and the date of issue or can supply a copy of the article?

Re: Oberst Hajo Herrmann - May 1945
 

Thank you for sharing this highly interesting story with us.

What else do you know about the sabotage missions over Hungary? Were saboteurs flown over Hungary and dropped? Or did the aircraft actually land? What airplane types were flown? What Luftwaffe unit did the airmen belong to?

What was the reason the highly experienced Hajo Hermann offered his services to the Soviets? This was highly unusual, as all German soldiers wanted to actually get away from the Soviets...

Thank you, again, for your valuable input.

Best wishes,

Re: Oberst Hajo Herrmann - May 1945
 

Indeed, interesting lead.

Hope someone knows about said article in more detail.

If it is a regional paper it is going to be challnging.

Re: Oberst Hajo Herrmann - May 1945
 

Hello Denes,

the pilots assembled at Klagenfurt-Zollfeld didn't belong to a specially named unit. They were called "Unternehmen Bienenstock". We all came from the airfield of Pocking where the pilots assembled who either have returned from the ramming mission of 7th April 1945 or didn't have flown that mission. Originally they should fly to US air bases in Italy, e.g. Fogia and Rimini, to destroy heavy bombers parked there. The mission was cancelled because of bad weather around April/May and the armistice for the Southern front.

New orders asked for the Hungary missions. All plans landed at dusk near selected targets and started next moring at dawn. Primarly Bü 181 were used besides some Bü 131, Go 145 and one Ar 66. Actions took place in the area between Papa and Neusiedler See. One crash of a Bü 131 is reported at Sopronkövesd near Lövö. According to my archiv on 5th and 6thMay 34 Pilots (17 crews) started.

Near the end of the war all soldiers including the high staffs expected war between the USA and Russia in the near future. Hajo Herrman expected superiority of the USAAF but also wearing out fights for both powers. See his book "Als die Jagd zu Ende war".

Best wishes
Fritz M.

Re: Oberst Hajo Herrmann - May 1945
 

Did any of you forum members ever meet Hajo Herrmann? Many of the Luftwaffe airmen never thought highly of him.

Edward L. Hsiao

Re: Oberst Hajo Herrmann - May 1945
 

Here is the mentioned book with a few reviews. You can click to read further on this English translation.

https://translate.google.com/transla...04&prev=search

Re: Oberst Hajo Herrmann - May 1945
 

I have met Hajo several times and spoke with him personally. He was ok. This was about 10 or 12 years ago. I think, he was an other type of men in younger years.

Re: Oberst Hajo Herrmann - May 1945
 

Dr. Fritz,

If memory does not fail me, you actually flew some of those Bu 181 missions isn't it? How old were you then and how many of those "Feindflug" were flown personally by yourself or totally by your Group or Staffeln?

And, if memories does not fail me, you also flew on the Kommando Elbe, correct?

So, you indeed met Hajo Hermann in life...

Adriano S. Baumgartner

Re: Oberst Hajo Herrmann - May 1945
 

Adriano this post was over 9 years ago & I believe he passed away last year

Re: Oberst Hajo Herrmann - May 1945