[Kapper]

Matti, Andrew, Doug
I found the information on the loss of Hobein as Gruppnkommandeur I./SG10, very interesting.
As Andrew suggested that he was serving in I./SchG2 from Nov 42 to at least Sep 43 and since I./SchG 2 became I./SG10 in October 1943 it appears that Hobein didn’t leave the unit but at some point became it’s Gruppenkommandeur. Therefore it appears that Hobien didn’t serve as Gruppenkommandeur of III./ZG1 or I./StG2 as suggested in Doug’s data . So this raises the question as to when Hobein was made Gruppenkommandeur?
From various sources (including Doug’s database) I have Hermann Langermann as theGpKdr of I./SchG2 until around May 1943, then it’s unclear but Gerhard Weyert took command in 1943 (sometime after 8 Jun 43) until 18 October – around when the unit name change occurred, before he took command of III./SG4 on 10 Jan 44, then Egon Thiem was in command from 1 Dec 43 to end of war. However, since Hobein was lost as GpKdr on 31 Dec 1943 it appears that Thiem took command after this date – it seems to be a month out - was Hobein MIA a month earlier, or did Thiem take command a month later ? To further confuse the situation Josef Berlage is said to have been Gruppenkammandeur in Oct 43 when the unit name change occurred.
When Hobien was awarded his DKG on 14 Apr 43 it was for service as Staffelkapitan of 2./SchG2 and though the recommendation could have been some time earlier it is likely that he was still Staffelkapitan on award date. Norbert Schmitt took over 2./SchG 2 on 15 Sep 43 and I have a note that Oblt Schmelzer was Staffelkapitan in Aug 43, so it appears that Hobien left 2./SchG2 sometime between April and August 43 probably to become Gruppenkommandeur.
In Doug’s data Hobien is listed as Gruppenkommandeur I./StG2 from April 43 to 23 Sep 43. I believe this data is correct but a misread of unit designation (i.e. I./SchG 2 not I./StG 2). So this leads to the possibility that Hobien took over from Langermann in April or May 1943 until MIA on 31 Dec 43. Josef Berlage was in Stab I./SchG2 – I./SG10 during the time, so it’s possible that Berlage was acting Gruppenkommandeur from 23 Sep 43 to sometime in October during an absence from command by Hobein in that period (maybe WIA?) ? Or alternatively Weyert put in command until Hobein’s return on 18 Oct 43?
There seems to be a lot of conflicting data in regards to the Commanders of I./SchG 2 – I./SG10 in this period and I would be interested to learn more.
Regards,
Craig…