Dietrich Peltz - the missing (post-war) years

[Robert Forsyth]

Simon,

Many years ago (1980s), I wrote to Peltz at an address in Spain – I seem to recall. I received a brief letter from his wife telling me that her husband no longer corresponded with researchers.

I have read that in the lead-up to operations over England Peltz visited crews of KG 40 and KG 100. There is also the well-known sequence of photos of him visiting a Gefechtsverband – was it KG 6? Chris…?

There are also photos of him inspecting a Ta 152, possibly of JG 301, and looking decidedly unimpressed.

Like you, I was intrigued by the reference to FO 1038/166 and have a copy of it, but was generally disappointed by its contents when I got to read it. However, I seem to recall one document stating that while Peltz ‘disappeared’ from Prague(?), his adjutant fell into Soviet captivity.

I agree that that a biography – ‘if’ it could be done – would be fascinating.

BTW – talking of ‘disappearers’ and a slight change of topic: I seem to recall some years ago an (Irish?) researcher was attempting to write a biography of Kammler. Anyone heard anything of that?

[Chris Goss]

Robert-it was KG 6

[Simon Trew]

Robert, thanks for this, which tends to reinforce the general (if not uncontradicted) impression that Peltz was not too keen to share his memories with historians - at least, insofar as things that most interest me are concerned.

You are correct that FO 1038/166 confirms that Peltz's adjutant, Major Theodor Ellwein, was believed to be in Soviet captivity (at least, in November 1946). But at least two documents in that file express doubt that Peltz himself fell into Russian hands. And according to a British document of 17 October 1946, the Russians denied having Peltz when asked. Of course, that doesn't make it true, but at least they said it.

None of this, of course, stopped the authors of 'The Rise and Fall of the German Air Force' from suggesting in their photo caption (previously referenced) that Peltz might have ended up in the USSR.