[Kapper]

Hi Chris

For me, the coded EKMs are a snapshot in time when first issued in March 1940. Most units issued the numbers by seniority – some units with pilots listed first by rank then remaining aircrew, some with aircrew mixed in with highest rank to lowest rank – either way the StaKa was typically issued with #1, though on the odd rare occasion a unit seemed to have drawn names out of the hat thus were mixed. Unfortunately I don’t have all EKMs (until bundesarchives put the scanned lists over the internet) but I have enough to see the trends.

Anyway, a lot can be cleared up with the EKMs

What I have for EKMs xxx/1 issued in March 1940 for the components that later made up StG 1 is as per the following:

Stab StG 1 EKM 53530/1 unknown likely Obstlt Eberhard Baier
Stab I./StG 1 EKM 51520/1 unknown likely Maj Paul Werner Hozzel
1./StG 1 EKM 51521/1 unknown likely Kurt Kuhlmey
2./StG 1 EKM 51522/1 Oblt Heinrich Bohme KIA 02.06.40
3./StG 1 EKM 51523/1 Ofw Emil Busch MIA 02.06.43 (Bf to Maj Schiller Stab I./StG3) poss error maybe EKM 51523/7 or EKMs mixed - StaKa was Oblt Bruno Dilley ?
III./StG 51 (later II./StG 1) EKM 69064/1 Maj Heinrich v Klitzing KIA 17.05.40
7./StG 51 (later 4./StG 1) EKM 69065/1 Oblt Walter Klemme POW 17.05.40
8./StG 41 (later 5./StG 1) EKM 69066/1 Hptm Otto Ernst (later Kdr II./StG 1 WIA 13.10.43)
9./StG 51 (later 6./StG 1) EKM 69067/1 Oblt Harry Arndt KIA 07.06.40
Stab I./TrGr 186 (later III./StG 1) EKM 73020/1 Maj Walter Hagen – EOW GenMaj Kdr 17 FlgrDiv
1./StG 186 (later 7./StG 1) EKM 73032/1 unknown likely Helmut Bode
2./StG 186 (later 8./StG 1) EKM 73033/1 Hptm Helmut Mahlke badly WIA 08.08.41 – EOW Staff position
3./StG 186 (later 9./StG 1) EKM 73013/1 Hptm Erich Blattner KIA 11.05.40

Hptm Anton Keil EKM 62793/1 which is 6./StG 2 so likely went from 6./StG 2 direct to Kammandeur II./StG 51 when v Klitzing KIA

Hptm Zemsky EKM 69065/30 which means he was likely assigned to 7./StG 51 after the battle of France. Stated StaKa 6./StG 1 before becoming Kammandeur II./StG 1 after Keil

Oblt Joachim Rieger EKM 69066/2 would have been Otto Ernst deputy and took over when Otto Ernst was reassigned probably around time of becoming 5./StG 1 until KIA 2/12/41

Oblt Robert Georg Frhr v Malapert-Neufville EKM 69065/2 would have been Oblt Klemme deputy. Not sure if he took over when Klemme POW or if Klemme retained StaKa duties after release from French at Armistice. Noted in Officer Database that Malapert was StaKa 5./StG 1 in 1941/42 before becoming GpKdr II./StG 1 after Zemsky on 13.01.42 however I also note Rieger was Staka 5./StG 1 until KIA 02.12.41 so 1 month Staka before GpKdr is too short. I think Malapert replaced Klemme in 4./StG 1 thus most experienced Staka to replace Zemsky.

I don’t know who Blattners deputy was (EKM 73013/2 unknown) as that person would likely have taken over when Blattner was KIA. However I note that EKM 7313/3 was Oblt Kurt Reumann was Staka when KIA 26.02.41 – so Zemsky likely took over then as Staka 6./StG 1 – not sure if Reumann was Staka 6./StG 1 after Blattner KIA or 73013/2 (deputy took over) - cannot tell until I figure who was assigned that number.

Hope this helps all.

Regards,

Craig…